Totally transformed by technology. Am taking actions!

I grew up not knowing what a computer or a mobile phone was. The first time I saw one was after I graduated from the university. My friend and I enrolled for a 9 months computer course at a documentation and as we watch the instructor navigate the screen, we concluded it was a white man’s magic and that we will never be able to get any thing done. We were about 60 students to three computers. That was one of the few centers teaching computer studies in Bamenda in the 90s’. We could go for a whole day without having the opportunity to log in. The instructors were so bias and trusted the boys could learn faster than the girls and so had more access to the computers. I felt so frustrated. After six good months I could not confidently type and format a document on Microsoft word not because I was dull but because of the limited time I spent on the computer and the digital inequality we faced.  But I never gave up.

As time went by, I was able to acquire a laptop and get myself equipped with digital skills. Today My life is totally transformed and girls and women with disabilities and other Vulnerable women in my community are directly impacted while members of their household are also indirectly impacted.

All thanks to technology I network with many women all over the world. Networking has given me more opportunities to Partner and collaborate with individuals and organizations with the same objectives. By exchanging ideas, I have learnt a lot and am impacting my community more. For example, my digital training initiative for deaf girls and other vulnerable women which was launched on world Pulse have directly and indirectly impacted over 700 people.

In the past I use to be very shy and would not want to speak in a gathering because I wasn’t confident enough. Technology has helped me build more self -confidence and has also greatly improved on my self- esteem. I have been able to access opportunities to empower my self and equipped myself with skills relevant to my work so am more confident to speak in trainings, gatherings and anywhere. For example, all thanks to my connection on World Pulse with the use of technology I was able to lead a call in one of our breakout sessions during the last welcome Wednesday. This was a mile stone and I felt proud of myself.

Economically, technology has greatly improved on my livelihood. Using online plat forms like Facebook and WhatsApp my produce of beaded shoes and necklaces have become more visible and am able to sell them to people in and out of Cameroon. This has been a great source of income. I am also able to download more designs and search sites that give me more beautiful color blends for my products while teaching the deaf girls and women to this also. This gives me a great feeling of fulfilment.

Socially, I have made deep connections with women all over the world which I will always cherish and value. Example of this connection is on World Pulse. These women have thought me how to love and beloved unconditionally regardless of race, religious background or ethnic background, age and professional background. I am more grounded and focused because of the encouragement and validation I have had. It has positively impacted my daily interactions with people in my community. I have become a more loving person and I really feel good about that. All this has been made possible because of my constant use of technology.

In as much as I access opportunity online, I always take measures to ensure that my personal information and details are protected so that they cannot be stolen or deleted by hackers. Knowing that my information is safe, I am motivated to use the internet more.

My greatest desire is for all women and girls to be connected online so they can also access these opportunities that have greatly improved on my life. Therefore, it is important that digital spaces should be free of harassment and violence so more girls and women can access opportunities online safely. To ensure that they stay safe I constantly empower them through digital trainings on how to create strong passwords and avoid sites which can expose them to online violence.

In my community there still exist a lot of gender inequality in the digital world. For example, in households where they can’t afford enough technology devices the available ones are owned by the men or boys. Therefore, girls and women especially those with disabilities are constantly being relegated to the background when it comes to technology and in most cases when they own phones, they are not smartphones and not connected to the internet.

GSMA found that 393 million adult women in developing countries do not own mobile phones, and globally, women are 8% less likely to own a mobile phone than men. There are also stark regional differences. For instance, the gender gap in mobile ownership is much larger in South Asia (23%) and sub-Saharan Africa (13%). Women are more likely than men to borrow or share mobile phones (often within a household or from a male family member) and are rarely the primary owners of a mobile device. GSMA reports that women are more likely to have simpler feature phones that do not support mobile internet use, and women are 20% less likely than men to own a smartphone.

 I recommend that parents, caregivers and all stakeholders of disabilities should ensure girls and women have ownership and can use digital tools as smart phones so that they can access networking opportunities, empowerment trainings, improved livelihoods, education, and whatever opportunities they need to excel through the safe use of technology. In addition, they will be able to gain employment opportunities which will empower them economically the sure way to gender equality.