The UNESCO Khartoum Office and UNESCO Chair for Women in Science and Technology organized commemoration of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science on the premises of the UNESCO Chair in Morgan area, Khartoum.
About 40 participants enjoyed the program of the event contributing to its key message for Sudanese girls” #ChooseScience. Among others, there were H.E. Dr. Pavel Kroupkine, the representative of UNESCO to Sudan and Head of UNESCO Khartoum Office, Dr. Alshefa Abdelgadir, the Director of the UNESCO Chair for Women in Sciences and Technology, Mr. Shakir Yahia, the acting Representative of UN Women in Sudan, Dr. Wafaa Seed Ahmed, the Assistant to Secretary General of the Sudanese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture (NATCOM), Dr. Mona Abubakr, the Director of the Center for Asian and African Studies at the University of Khartoum, Dr. Sosan Sanhori, the Head of Scientific Affairs Section at the National Centre for Energy Research, Ms. Silje Vevatne, 1st Secretary of the Norway Embassy in Khartoum, and Ms. Irene Wairimu Wairioko, UNOPS.
The commemoration started with a short documentary film about the activities of the UNESCO Chair for Women in Sciences and Technology in supporting literacy for rural women in the South Darfur state of Sudan. Then, there was quite simpatico mix of music and speeches. In her speech, Dr. Alshefa Abdelgadir, the Director of the UNESCO Chair for Women in Sciences and Technology, welcomed participants and expressed her satisfaction on the status of women in Sudan. She mentioned her efforts for promoting Sudanese women success, and outlined the Chair’s 2018 plan to promote a STEM Girls Clubs project and Women Support Women in Science project. Dr. Pavel Kroupkine, the Head of the UNESCO Khartoum Office, expressed his happiness of celebrating the International Day for Women and Girls in Science for the first time in Khartoum, delivered the joint message of the General Directors of UNESCO and UN Women dedicated to the Day, and announced UNESCO’s support for promoting STEM Girls Clubs in Sudan explaining the context of the Initiative.
Mr. Shakir Yahia, the acting Representative of UN Women in Sudan, put the International Say for Women and Girls in Science in the context of reinforcing Women and Girls in Research within 2030 Development Agenda. Ms. Wafaa Seed Ahmed, the Assistant to Secretary General of the Sudanese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, highlighted the NATCOM’s mission to empower women in the Science and Technology sectors and announced NATCOM’s support for STEM Girls Club Initiative.
The event finished by more music, and Sudanese coffee and sweeties. The participants also enjoyed by a small exhibition explaining activities of the UNESCO Chair for Women in Science and Technology in Sudan.