DIGITEST, an initiative of Digital Peers International is a children and youth empowerment program aimed at bridging the digital divide. DIGITEST is an annual IT based summer creative camp and competition for children and youth ages 8 - 18 years  where they are taught to develop content for the internet, learn and work with various software covering desktop publishing, web design, animation amongst others. Emphasis is also placed on the development of quality youth leadership, promotion of role models and inculcating values in children.

The Objectives of DIGITEST are as follows:

1. To generate and develop ICT capabilities in children and young people
2. To promote knowledge based summer camping for children and youth
3. To refocus youthful energies to gainful activities

Now in its 13th edition, DIGITEST has grown to become the largest IT camp for children in Africa, attracting an average of 300 - 400 children on an annual basis.

DIGITEST 2012 is scheduled to be held in Abuja, Nigeria from August 5 - 16, 2012

To encourage young people especially girls and women to pursue information technology and communications studies through seminars, mentoring and free professional development seminars.

To equip young people especially girls and women with fundamental, vendor neutral knowledge and skills that are a necessity for sustainable career growth.

To encourage and empower women in Nigeria to take advantage of ICT career and business opportunities by providing insights and information online for the advancement and empowerment of women through ICTs.

STEM Camps

The African Girls STEM camp is part of a major effort by WAAW Foundation to attract more African girls (ages 11-15yrs) into STEM disciplines early in life when career decisions are made.

What is the WAAW STEM Camp?
1.An opportunity for girls to learn about role models in STEM careers, and build mentor relationships.
2.Outstanding instructors with extensive backgrounds in Science, Technology and Math teaching the workshops.
3.A one-week introduction to the world of technology and engineering, with intense individual and team participation.
4.Practical, hands-on lessons promoting experiential learning.
5.A fun residential camping experience making friends and promoting peer communities.
6.A hands-on experience with high-tech equipment and processes.

Scholarships

Our $500 scholarship program initiated in 2008, is aimed at providing timely financial support to academically promising female African Students who are currently in STEM related undergraduate disciplines in an African College or University. Awardees must demonstrate financial need and a strong commitment to participating in building Africa. The initiative also promotes peers networks that provide support and mentoring to ensure completion in their chosen STEM fields.

Mentoring African Women in STEM

One of the keys to improving livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa is to build and sustain a strong, effective talent pool for the delivery of Science and Technology innovation. This requires fostering the STEM capacity of women while strengthening the mentoring and peer networks.
This initiative expands the impact of WAAWs STEM camps and scholarships, easing the participants access to mentors while building their skills and professional networks. In turn, it brings the groundbreaking work of Professional African women in STEM to the national, regional and global stages, where it is much needed. 
 

WIT provides a diverse mix of resources to empower Nigerian women, youth, and children. Offerings include hosted events, webinars, articles, training, networking, career fairs, and contests.

Recently, WITIN is supporting an international mobile app challenge that encourages teams of secondary school girls to develop mobile apps, conduct market research, write business plans, and create a funding pitch. Nigerian teams will compete and a national winner will then travel to California to compete globally on May 1st, 2013. Such a challenge is inspiring for any country, yet alone Nigeria, and we look forward to sharing news of the success.

Another current initiative aims to target 10,000 marginalized women for empowerment via ICT by the end of 2013. The hope is that with support, women can create online presences for their businesses. WITIN also supports International Girl in ICT Day and has participated in numerous ITU and Google events.

Other efforts include:
Green ICT projects
Sensitization of at least 250 schools on science, technology, engineering, and maths
Forums on ICT and child development
Twitter aid for women businesses

Don’t forget, International Girls in ICT Day is April 25th, 2013. At least six African countries participated last year and hopefully more will take part in 2013!

Be sure to follow @mywitin on Twitter and also check out one of their 13 YouTube videos (like the one below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6RmxoUCc8oE

W.TEC is a Nigerian non-governmental organization working for the economic and social empowerment of girls and women, using information and communication technologies (ICTs). We have chosen to focus on this area because statistical evidence has shown that in most African countries, women’s use and knowledge of ICTs (to store, share, organise and process information) is lower than men’s, denying them of income-generating opportunities and the chance to network with others.

W.TEC’s programmes will comprise of technology literacy training, technology-based projects, mentoring and work placement. W.TEC will also research and publish works examining pivotal issues related to how African women use technology, barriers preventing or limiting technology use, and strategies for more efficient technology use.

Our objectives are for Nigerian women to develop financial independence by: training for ICT-specific jobs, like computer engineer, programmer, system analysts, hardware and network specialists, designers; developing technology skills that can be used for other ICT-reliant jobs or self-employment. We also want women to develop skills and confidence to use ICTs for activism, learning, awareness-raising and advocacy for a better quality of life.

W.TEC will achieve this by:
Providing technology education for Nigerian women and girls so that they are able to use ICTs effectively for work, activism and networking
Producing innovative and ground-breaking research that supports the development and implementation of technology programmes for women and girls
Promoting and supporting the use of ICT in uplifting women’s rights
Establishing a network of technology-fluent alumni and mentors
W.TEC runs a number of technology-facilitated and educational projects each year. Our main programmes are:
1.W.TEC Technology Camp
2.Alumni Network
3.Research