An awareness-raising session was conducted at Naihati Secondary Girls School, Rupsha, Khulna as part of the project titled "STEM & ICT Skills for Girls of Coastal Areas" (SISGCA) On November 06, 2023. The Bangladesh Open Source Network organized the event and aimed to inform parents about the project and its impact on their daughters' education. The session was attended by the school headmaster, former PTA president, Regional coordinator, school teachers, and 57 Guardian.

The SISGCA project is a two-year initiative funded by The Malala Fund and implemented by Bangladesh Freedom Foundation in association with BdOSN. The project aims to reduce the digital divide among secondary school girls in three coastal areas of Bangladesh by providing them with easy access to smart devices and bringing positive change among girls and community people regarding STEM education and ICT careers.

During the awareness session, Regional Coordinator M. Muzahiduzzaman delivered welcome speech, emphasizing the significance of the SISGCA project and the myriad opportunities it affords participating students. He highlighted key project activities, encompassing the provision of smart devices and internet connectivity, as well as comprehensive training in digital knowledge, technology, mathematics, science, programming, robotics, and online safety. Muzahiduzzaman underscored the project's broader mission, extending beyond technical skills to address societal issues, such as raising awareness about gender inequality. The initiative aims to enlighten students, local teachers, parents, and the community at large about the vast potential of STEM education and careers, with a particular focus on fostering opportunities for girls in the ICT sector.

Assistant teacher Tapas Kumar Bhattacharya also spoke at the session, emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in the education of girls. He urged parents to be sincere about their daughters' education and to work together to prevent child marriage. He also spoke about the importance of using technology in a positive way so that girls can establish themselves as self-reliant and adaptable citizens of the future.

Headmaster Mosa: Rehenara Khatun, who spoke as the chief guest, said that girls in the coastal areas of Bangladesh are lagging behind in terms of advanced education. The SISGCA project is helping to address this by enabling students to develop technology and science-based skills. She also spoke about the importance of parental cooperation in the success of the project.

Guardian Gopal Kumar Saha spoke about the challenges faced by poor families in the coastal area, who often consider girls as a burden and push them towards early marriage. He urged the government and various development organizations to extend their helping hand to these families so that their daughters can benefit from the SISGCA project.

The session concluded with a call to action from the headmaster, who urged parents to support their daughters' education and to help them make the most of the opportunities that the SISGCA project is offering.

The SISGCA project is a valuable initiative that is helping to empower girls in coastal areas of Bangladesh through STEM and ICT skills. It is important to raise awareness about this project and to encourage parents to support their daughters' participation in it. Together, we can help to create a brighter future for these girls and for the coastal communities in which they live.