As part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, Google last week announced that it will be launching the Women Will initiative in Kenya. The program is designed to create economic opportunities for women by connecting them to digital skills and mentorship. It helps women to make the most of technology to build skills, get inspired and connect with each other through trainings, events and advocacy.
According to an International Finance Corporation (IFC) report, approximately 32.2 percent of certified small and medium enterprises are owned by women, whereas 47.9 percent are owned by men. This gap indicates the importance of creating opportunities to steer growth for women in entrepreneurship, workplace growth, leadership and digital literacy.
Leading up to the launch of the program, Google held masterclasses across the country for small and medium business owners, job seekers and women living with disabilities. In these sessions, participants received personal skills development, business growth, digital skills, which are designed to position them for career growth and leadership.
Farzana Khubchandani, Country Marketing Manager, Google, Kenya had this to say, “From helping women across Kenya access digital skills and bringing together women entrepreneurs, Google is keen on developing and supporting programs that help women build skills, get inspired and connect with each other.”
International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year the theme was, #BalanceforBetter, it underscored the importance of gender balance and parity for stronger businesses, economic opportunities and communities.
Women Will programs will also be available in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan and Mexico and are rolled out in collaboration with a wide range of partners.