Engaging women in the country's digital transformation process.

Women in Tajikistan face numerous barriers to educational and career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. According to recent data from the World Economic Forum (WEF), women comprise less than 20% of the STEM workforce in this Central Asian nation.

Equipping women with technological skills.

Madina Pulotova, founder and CEO of the NGO Jahoni Mo, understands the challenges facing women in STEM fields. Jahoni Mo focuses on empowering young people and women in STEM, particularly equipping them with information technology skills to achieve career success.

Like many effective NGOs in Tajikistan, Jahoni Mo was born from personal experience.

Pulotova said, "When I finished high school in 1999, limited financial resources prevented me from continuing my education at that time. It was seven years later before I went to university. I felt the pain of young people who couldn't continue their education, and this motivated me to do something."

Based in Khujand, Tajikistan's second-largest city, Jahoni Mo empowers women and girls by connecting technology and psychology to ensure participants possess both skills and emotional intelligence. Jahoni Mo provides training in computer literacy and finance, in addition to organizing psychology workshops.

Through partnerships with private companies, participants have job opportunities after completing the program. Pulotova stated that the organization's mission is to support women in achieving success.

Madina Pulotova, Executive Director of the NGO Jahoni Mo

"What women need is the opportunity to grow."

Although not yet widespread in Tajikistan, the information technology sector is growing, with a value of approximately $350 million in 2023. This growth is crucial for Tajikistan's transformation from an agrarian , rural economy to a modern, digital, and service-oriented nation.

Pulotova aims to engage women in this transformation and ensure that Tajikistan's digital development is not limited to the capital, Dushanbe. "There are more opportunities in Dushanbe, mainly due to access to education and technology. It's also home to most of the major companies, but people in Khujand and the north of the country are equally capable," she said.

A key part of Jahoni Mo's mission is to improve the effectiveness of social entrepreneurship in Tajikistan, aiming to reduce the dependence of NGOs on external funding. Supported by the Finnish Embassy, ​​Jahoni Mo's program trains approximately 40 women and girls and prepares 10 students to participate in the Global Robotics Challenge.

Pulotova expressed her desire to empower more women to pursue careers in technology. She said, "I can see that women and girls are interested in STEM fields and have a passion for them. What they need is opportunities to grow, and we are doing everything we can to help them."

In September 2024, Jahoni Mo will send a team of three girls to Greece to participate in the Global Robotics Challenge. This makes Pulotova extremely proud, and she hopes it will be a catalyst for receiving more support, especially from the Tajik business community.

"We need more connections between businesses, individuals, and NGOs because non-profits shouldn't be left to do everything on their own," she said.

Source: Emerging Europe

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/tajikistan-tang-cuong-trang-bi-cho-phu-nu-cac-ky-nang-cong-nghe-20240729142919303.htm