Accord for ICT Training Signed with British Government

Accord for ICT Training Signed with British Government
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 11/29/2011

The agreement is intended to create abilities through the ICT Training Project for women in Villa Mella who will have access to employment associated to technology.

At her side, Ambassador Steven Fisher said he was happy to be a part of this successful team, directed by Margarita Cedeño de Fernández. He reiterated that he would continue an all-out effort to reach the goal they are seeking in this important program.

The Office of the First Lady (DPD in Spanish) and the Government of the Great Britain signed a memorandum of understanding with the goal of providing the support necessary to train women of Villa Mella in Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) through its Women on the Net program, with the goal of getting women into the workplace.

The document was signed by the First Lady, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, and British Ambassador Steven M. Fisher. The goal of the agreement is to create technical vocational training in the areas of ICTs, through the Community Technology Centers (CTCs) in alliance with CISCO Academy, which seeks to train 20 women per year.

After signing of the document, the First Lady expressed her appreciation for the support being offered to the women in Villa Mella.

“This is a great support for an initiative dedicated to women, mainly for those women who have the least experience and access in the area of technology. We already have 176 women graduated, 290 of them are currently taking courses and with this, we will continue expanding. With God´s help, we will reach the goal of training a thousand women,” said the First Lady

At her side, Ambassador Steven Fisher said he was happy to be a part of this successful team, directed by Margarita Cedeño de Fernández. He reiterated that he would continue an all-out effort to reach the goal they are seeking in this important program.

According to the agreement, the Office of the First Lady will be in charge of supervision, personnel, agents and visitors. The project is costing £18,942.23 British pounds. With the signing of the agreement, representatives of the British government gave the first part of the donation, £7,500, with the rest to be handed over in partial payments.

Also present at the signing of the accord, was José Armando Tavárez, director of the Las Americas Technology Institute (ITLA in Spanish); Omar Aquino, CISCO representative of Women on the Net program and a group of adolescents from Villa Mella, among other personalities.

About Women on the Net

Women on the Net was the winner of the Gender Campaign in Latin America and the Caribbean 2007. Sponsored by Cisco Networking Academy of Latin America and the Caribbean, the program seeks gender equity, integration and the participation of women in Information and Communication Technology (ICTs).

This program trains women with limited resources in the areas of networking and telecommunications, programming and multimedia with the goal of reducing inequality of access to ICTs while increasing opportunities for the development of women. It also seeks to create collective access to ICTs for the general Dominican population, especially those groups traditionally excluded, such as women, students and residents of poor neighborhoods and depressed rural zones as well as the most economically disadvantaged groups in the country.