Technology helps foster the careers and aspirations of girls and women in developing countries

The guardian has published several articles in recent months showing how practical skills with computing can assist women in developing countries, or inspire girls to design apps that can not only benefit both themselves and their families in their current situations but also give them skills that may help them secure better careers in future.You can read more about the Dharavi Slum Innovation project here.

Celebrating Ada Lovelace - the woman who first saw the potential of computers

Ada Lovelace is often regarded as the first person who truly saw the potential of computers.  Although there have previously been documentaries made depicting her life, a new movie is being made by the female owned start up Monumental which aims to portray her complex character. This film reflects the increasing amount of attention are being paid to Ada Lovelace recently, partly due to the recent declaration of "Ada Lovelace day", which is the second Tuesday of October each year.  The intention of this day is to celebrate, and raise the profile of, women within STEM.  Of course, this is also an opportunity to reflect on the gender biases which are still prevalent in these industries, where women are still a minority in technical roles. This is nicely demonstrated by a recent report in The Guardian on diversity within major techology companies (Apple, Microsoft, Facebook etc). Of course, this isn't an issue that can be simply solved by positive employment policies; there needs to be an adequate suply of qualified women wanting to work in these areas.  Despite attempts over several decades, the "leaky pipe" continues to exist, with few girls choosing to take STEM subjects at each step in their education.  This emphasises why initiatives that celebrate the contributions of women and provide rolemodels to younger generations is so important.  The more girls and young women see other females succeeding in these areas, the more likely they are to pursue careers in these fields.  Consequently, Ada Lovelace is not just part of history, she is a representative of women all of the world who can inspire others to follow their own dreams and carve their own niche in this world.