Sisters of Code Celebrates International Girls in ICT Day 2025

Sisters of Code
Apr 29
5 min read

On April 26, 2025, Sisters of Code and IT Academy STEP Cambodia Institute celebrated International Girls in ICT Day at Preah Sisowath High School (New Generation School) in Phnom Penh. This marks the third year that Sisters of Code has proudly joined the global movement to inspire more girls and women to explore opportunities in STEM fields.

Guided by this year’s global theme, "Girls in ICTs: Bridging ALL Divides for an Inclusive Digital Transformation," Sisters of Code tailored the event to focus on "Digital Skills for Women in the 21st Century." This local adaptation is in alignment with Cambodia’s growing efforts to enhance digital literacy and empower citizens with the skills needed for the country's digital future.

Group Photo - International Girls in ICT Day 2025

The event welcomed a total of 90 participants, including 81 female and 9 male attendees. The majority were high school and university students who expressed a strong interest in strengthening their digital literacy, with some female students already preparing for careers in specialized fields such as cybersecurity and data science.

The event featured 3 key activities, including key presentations, intergenerational dialogue, and group discussion.

Key Presentations

Two inspiring key presentations were delivered by outstanding female professionals, each sharing their experiences and expertise.

Presentation 1: "Digital Tools for Study and Office Work"

Ms. Phoeurt Rathana, a Computer teacher at PSE and a Sisters of Code Ambassador for 2025, spoke on "Digital Tools for Studies and Office Work." Drawing from her background as both a student and a teacher, she offered insightful recommendations on the tools that can streamline tasks, boosting productivity and efficiency in both studies and workplace environments.

Seven digital tools were introduced to the participants, including Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Meet, Google Calendar, Canvas, and ChatGPT. However, Rathana made sure to emphasize the importance of using ChatGPT responsibly. She advised students not to rely too heavily on the tool for studying or completing homework, encouraging them to use it as a support tool rather than a placement for their own work.

Presentation 2: "Building Confidence in Tech Education and Career"

Ms. Phen Phallideth, a Cybersecurity Specialist in the government sector and a Sisters of Code Trainer, delivered an inspiring presentation on "Building Confidence in Tech Education and Career." Coming from a rural area in Cambodia, Phallideth understands the challenges women face, particularly when it comes to building the confidence needed to pursue a career or education in tech.

To empower the students, she shared six valuable tips for boosting confidence in their journey. One of her core messages was to "Own your learning journey," encouraging students to take control of their personal growth and cultivate a lifelong love for learning. She also offered practical advice, urging students to "Stop comparing to others," "Always ask questions," "Seek out support communities," "Get comfortable with failures," and "Keep building." Her presentation resonated deeply with the participants, who are actively learning to build their confidence.

At the conclusion of each presentation, our Sisters of Code Project Leader, Ms. Chin Dalin, presented flower bouquets and certificates to each of our guest speakers as a heartfelt token of appreciation for sharing their experiences and empowering the next generation of women in technology.

Intergenerational Dialogue: "Digital Skills for Women in the 21st Century"

The intergenerational dialogue brought together inspiring female leaders in technology from different generations, from senior experts to early career professionals, to share their experiences and advice on the digital skills that are essential for girls and women.

We were proud to be joined by Mrs. Tan Sodany, Director of the ICT Policy Department at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications; Ms. Kuyseng Chesda, Tutor at the American University of Phnom Penh; and Ms. Sarath Vechyeny, Digital Assistant and former student at Sisters of Code, who generously shared their valuable insights on the topic of "Digital Skills for Women in the 21st Century" with our participants.

Coming from different generations, our panelists shared a common vision: technology is for all, and women have an essential role to play in shaping the future of the digital world. They highlighted that Cambodia is experiencing a growing demand for skilled workers in technology across all sectors, from private enterprises to government institutions.

They also discussed how technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and while the number of women entering the field is steadily increasing, more efforts are needed to ensure that women not only participate but also lead in this transformation. Their insights reminded us that encouraging young girls to explore technology from an early age, providing strong role models, and creating supportive learning environments are key to closing the gender gap and fostering a more inclusive digital economy.

The dialogue was followed by an interactive Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to engage directly with our guest panelists.

At the end of the dialogue, Mr. Pius Frick, Country Coordinator Cambodia, Liechtenstein Development Service, presented flowers and certificates to our three incredible panelists as a gesture of appreciation for their valuable contributions and inspiring stories.

Group Discussion

Following the inspiring talks from our guest speakers, participants gathered in small groups to share their own experiences in studying, exploring, and working in technology. Through these heartfelt conversations, they reflected on the challenges they have overcome and the milestones they have achieved.

Three students volunteered to share the highlights of their group discussions with the audience: two high school students and one university student, each offering unique insights into their experiences and perspectives on technology.

One common struggle shared among them was the self-doubt about whether women can truly thrive in the tech sector, especially given the underrepresentation of women in the field. Beyond the stereotype, they also highlighted the lack of knowledge as a source of self-doubt, as the tech industry demands a highly skilled workforce.

However, each student expressed a commitment to overcoming these obstacles and pursuing a career in tech. Reflecting on the second presentation, they all agreed that the key to success lies in taking ownership of our knowledge and developing a passion for lifelong learning.

Participants engaging in the post-survey

As the event came to a close, participants were invited to complete a post-survey. The feedback highlighted the event's strong impact, with 62 respondents expressing high levels of satisfaction across all areas. We are glad that the majority of the participants were highly satisfied with the relevance of the topic with 98.39% satisfied and no unsatisfied responses and a 100% appreciation of the speakers of the event.

We consider the event as very successful, as after attending the event, 48.4% of participants reported a greater interest in ICT careers. Moreover, 40.3% indicated a new desire to learn about ICT careers. These results show the event’s positive influence in inspiring participants to explore opportunities in ICT and inspires Sisters of Code team to continue creating such events in the future. When asked what topics participants are interested in exploring in the future, we have identified that Cybersecurity & Online Safety is most attractive (56.45%), along with Coding & Programming Basics (54.84%). AI & Emerging Technologies and Social Media & Digital Marketing Skills followed closely behind, each appealing to 51.61% of respondents. UI/UX Design & Creativity in Tech attracted 38.71%, while Software Development garnered the least interest, with only 3.23% of participants keen on learning about it.

International Girls in ICT Day has reminded about the importance of creating spaces where girls and women can confidently explore technology, develop their skills, and build careers in this rapidly evolving field.

We are deeply inspired by the dedication and determination of everyone who joined us. At Sisters of Code, we are committed to fostering such spaces, ones where girls and women feel supported, encouraged, and empowered to pursue education and careers in technology. We believe that together, we can break barriers, inspire confidence, and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future in tech.