Women's Empowerment through Technology and Education

Research has shown that women in developing countries face challenges including education, access to technology, economic stability, and violence. Significant efforts are being made to bring education and technology to developing countries globally. Several organizations including Intel, Google, facebook, and Microsoft—to name a few—have significant commitments toward global technology, education and women’s empowerment. Since this effort is a huge undertaking, many have formed alliances with organizations and individuals who are interested in this initiative.

Are technological advances, specifically mobile and social technologies, the answer to women’s empowerment providing opportunities for education, business support, and economic growth? Although the benefits of technology are numerous, this study will focus on education and the use of social technologies as a means of economic empowerment for women in Honduras.

I am now in Honduras interviewing women regarding their use of technology and other empowerment issues. Although results are still outstanding, some trends appear to be that most own a $20 smart phone and many have facebook. Very few have used the internet to any extent, except for facebook. There is great power in using the internet for education and social technologies for building one's customer base, providing customer service, etc. but training must be provided so that the technology available is used to its fullest potential.

My hope is to be able to provide training to the women of Honduras and eventually other countries so that they know how to use the tools that are available to them. The internet and facebook will open the windows of the world to women in developing countries and give them the knowledge and tools necessary be successful.