To mark International Girls in ICT Day, Belize’s signature gender equity in technology program “Lead Like a Girl” has returned for its fourth consecutive year, growing into a nationwide movement that draws record participation from young women across the country.
This year, 140 female high school students from 35 institutions across Belize are taking part in hands-on activities, skills-building workshops and networking opportunities designed to open their eyes to long-term careers in information and communications technology, and equip them with the core competencies needed to succeed in an increasingly digital global economy.
What began as a small community-focused idea has steadily expanded its reach and impact, reflecting growing interest among Belizean young women in tech pathways, according to Namrita Balani, Director of Science and Technology at Belize’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Balani explained that the movement launched a structured pledge framework two years ago, which organizes support actions across four levels: individual (from your couch), community, corporate, and national. Individual actions range from simple social media shares to in-person volunteering, while national-level support includes new ICT scholarships approved by Belize’s Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment to help participating girls pursue higher education in tech fields.
The program’s growing impact is visible in the trajectories of early participants, Balani noted, pointing to Celeste (SES) Garcia, a three-year program alumna who now volunteers with the initiative and is enrolled in a technology degree program at the University of Belize. Garcia, whose father works in the tech sector, said she did not consider a tech career for herself until she attended her first “Lead Like a Girl” event.
Key cross-sector partners, including UNICEF Belize, have played a central role in expanding the initiative. Sajid Ali, UNICEF’s country representative in Belize, emphasized that closing the gender gap in digital tech is critical for equitable economic opportunity. Data consistently shows that teenage girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 24 engage with digital technology at far lower rates than their male peers in Belize, a gap that limits their access to growing, high-wage tech career pathways. Ali challenged participating young women to see themselves as the next generation of global innovators, national leaders and decision-makers, urging them to believe in their own potential and leverage the support available to them in the tech sector.
For Garcia, who now encourages new participants to explore their interests, that message of self-belief has already changed her life. She shared that she had no idea she would develop a passion for coding until she tested it out during a “Lead Like a Girl” activity. “This is a learning experience and this event is all about you guys. Give it a chance, maybe a competition you partake in, sparks a passion in you. You never knew you had,” Garcia told this year’s participants. “We need more girls in it. It doesn’t matter what you know now. If you like anything about the activities and games we play today, please don’t hesitate to pursue those interests. Every girl in here is smart and talented, has something amazing to offer, and each of you is meant to be here. So have fun, experiment, and most importantly, lead like a girl.”
As the program enters its fourth year, organizers say they are committed to keeping it running long-term, with the goal of empowering the next generation of Belizean women not just to enter the tech industry, but to lead it.