Student Hosts Panel on Girls in ICT
On her day off last Friday, Nicole Damianidis ’22 hosted a Girls in ICT (information and communications technology) conference with six other impressive female panelists to discuss the gender digital divide. It was free and open to girls in Grades 7-12, and with very little lead time, Nicole’s 90 minute conference drew nearly 50 attendees interested in learning more about technology and STEM.
According to Nicole, “Coding is the new cursive. No matter what profession students decide to pursue in the future, whether that be science or art, being familiar with technology will be a given.” The message she and her panelists wanted to convey is not to be afraid of technology, but embrace it.
With a keen curiosity and extra time on her hands due to recent lockdowns, Nicole, a self-professed technology innovator, has recently become a UN Youth Leader, “to advocate the gender digital divide for women in developing nations, and to allow women to thrive in the digital economy.” She has also become an innovator with The Knowledge Society, a global community of the world's most ambitious young people who want to make an impact using emerging technologies and sciences. Nicole handpicked her panelists through her new and expanding network of professional female leaders in technology.
Her panelists included the Lead on GSMA’s partnerships with UN Women, the EQUALS global partnership for digital gender equality; a research intern at Harvard and fellow member of The Knowledge Society; the Lead for Women in Action and Account Executive at Dell Canada; a Brand & Communications Manager at Kids Code Jeunesse in Quebec; a computer science major and Lead organizer of a 36-hour hackathon hosted by UC, Santa Barbara; and a Research Associate at the Institute for Economics & Peace.
Nicole enjoyed moderating the session and ensuring the conversation flowed and her panelists stayed on target. Apparently, she did such a great job that she has since been invited to be a speaker on another panel on internet safety in June, and was offered an internship with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) this summer.
Her overarching message is this: “The best way to get involved with Tech or STEM, is to find a role model or mentor – someone to help you. Find someone you can talk to and they will help open your eyes to the possibilities. Moving forward, young people will have to face technology head on and there are all kinds of online resources available to them.”
Nicole is a big advocate for more youth initiatives to help spread this message. “Young women telling other young women and girls that this should be a priority – this is the future.”
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
