From Silent Dreams to Digital Voices: Why We Must Invest in Girls in ICT

Meet Sayra—a shining symbol of courage, commitment, and change.

When Sayra first walked into the Sombhabona ICT Centre, she carried no gadgets, no credentials—only hope. Born into a modest middle-class family in Bangladesh, Sayra’s early life was filled with quiet struggles, quiet responsibilities, and dreams she barely dared to speak aloud. But what she lacked in privilege, she made up for in perseverance.

She started with Basic Computer Training. Then, with long nights of study and days filled with determination, she moved on to advanced IT skills. Today, she’s not just a student. Sayra is an Assistant Trainer, empowering other girls like her—girls who were once silent, unsure, and invisible. Side by side, she is also pursuing her LLB degree, dreaming of becoming a lawyer for women’s rights—proving that technology and justice can walk hand in hand.

Sayra is not alone.

Meet Faria Mahjabin, a tenth-grade student who once dropped out due to financial hardships after losing her father. Her dream of learning graphic design was buried beneath long hours of work to support her family. But when she discovered Sombhabona ICT Center, everything changed. Within three months, she completed the Basic Computer course and enrolled in Graphic Design and Freelancing training. Within two months, she started receiving real work opportunities—earning while learning.

Then there’s Sumaiya, who lives in a tin-roofed slum house where even sunlight barely peeks through. For her, the idea of holding a mouse, let alone a future in tech, seemed impossible. But through ICT training, she’s now designing, learning, and teaching others. She's proof that the light of a screen can sometimes be the only beam of hope in a dark room.

Girls + ICT = A Future Rewritten

These stories reflect something deeper: the untapped potential of thousands of girls across underprivileged and marginalized communities.

In Bangladesh, and in many parts of the world, girls are still denied the tools, the training, and the trust to enter the ICT sector. Social barriers, poverty, and a lack of resources keep them locked out of the digital revolution. And yet, they are the missing half of the solution.

Technology is no longer just a sector—it is the future of every profession, every movement, and every possibility. And yet, less than 30% of tech roles worldwide are held by women. In rural and marginalized communities, that number is even lower.

So what can we do?

💡 Fund programs that bring ICT training to slums, villages, and forgotten corners of our cities.

💡 Provide scholarships for girls who can’t afford a course fee but have the fire to learn.

💡 Support female mentors and trainers who inspire the next generation.

💡 Create safe digital spaces for girls to learn, collaborate, and express themselves.

💡 Believe in the dreams of girls like Sayra, Faria, and Sumaiya—and invest in turning them into leaders.

The Time is Now

Girls in ICT Day is not just a celebration. It’s a call to action.

We need a digital world where no girl is left behind because of where she was born, how much money her parents have, or what her community believes she’s capable of.

At Sombhabona, we’ve trained nearly 100 girls in the past year alone. But the need is far greater. Every day, girls knock on our doors, hungry to learn, but we simply don’t have enough computers, trainers, or funds to welcome them all.

Let’s change that. Together.

Because when you invest in one girl’s access to ICT, you’re not just teaching her to code or design. You’re giving her a voice. A platform. A future.

And maybe, just maybe—you’re changing the world.