“Become agents and voices of change in your communities in the fight against all forms of gender-based violence.” This was the appeal of the Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs, to the twenty-nine teenage boys attending the Youth Tech Initiative on February 28th, 2024 at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair Office.
The Youth Tech Initiative provides a platform for young persons to engage in discussions on gender and technology related issues. It is one of the Gender Affairs Division’s strategies to improve the quality of life of men, women, boys and girls at all levels of society through the promotion of Gender Equity and Equality. Wednesday’s session, the second iteration of Youth Tech, addressed social media and mental health, technology facilitated gender-based violence, technology and stereotyping, media literacy, and the use of technology for advocacy.
In attendance were male students from the Belmont, Woodbrook, South East Port of Spain and Mucurapo East Secondary Schools, and the Black Hawks Martial Arts Management Network Association. The young men benefited from a moderated discussion and breakout sessions by information technology experts, Mr. Keron Smith and Mr. Rayard Sookoo; medical social worker Mr. Joel Duncan, and Child Rights Ambassador alumni Mr. Malique Auguste.
The various speakers emphasised the need for young people to become critical-thinkers and positive change agents on issues intersecting gender and technology.
The sessions sought to enhance students understanding of the misuse and excessive use of technology and to improve the students’ confidence when engaging in similar discussions with their peers.
Students were repeatedly cautioned to be more mindful in their social media engagement and to always be vigilant and on the lookout for online predators. Mr. Richie Bansraj, Gender Training Officer, Gender Affairs Division and Moderator for the panel discussion urged the teens to self-reflect by pausing before posting anything, asking themselves if the post will hurt someone, and making the deliberate choice not to harm anyone.
Students were also exposed to the many benefits of technology and also interacted with the information booths by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Innovative Robotics Services and NIHERST. Students won prizes and were exposed to emerging technologies, opportunities for free training and education, and new career pathways.
Our national policies and strategies seek to remove gender stereotyping in current technical / vocational / IT education and training programmes in order to promote equitable access to young women and men, develop a more knowledge-based, innovative and entrepreneurial society as well as to eliminate the use of technology as a tool to engage in gender-based violence.