SheLeadsIT with CGI Disaster Action Network

WEI FORWARD 2 July, 2019 Communities and Sustainable Development, Transformational Entrepreneurship, WEI Institute, Youth and Education

SheLeadsIT Caribbean Girls Hack, represented by Nicole Pitter Patterson (WEI Trade) participated as a panelist at the CGI Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery held June 3-4 in St. Thomas, U.S Virgin Islands.  In 2018, the Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Action Network on Post-Disaster building on CGI’s proven Commitment to Action model. This Action Network brings together leaders from across sectors to develop new, specific, and measurable plans that advance recovery and promote long-term resiliency across the region.


At the panel session, led by Secretary Hilary Clinton on Advancing Economic Development Through Entrepreneurship and STEM Education, we shared strategies around integrating STEM learning across all education levels in the Caribbean, creating opportunities for students to enter growing industries and empowering them to develop solutions to key challenges. 

SheLeadsIT highlighted the growth of the regional hackathon participants by 600%  over the past 3 years, and more importantly the minimum viable hack tech solutions for #ClimateSafeFutureSafe climate actions created by students across the region reinforced the urgency to foster increased youth engagement  to drive innovation and entrepreneurship for inclusive sustainable development, particularly in the face of climate vulnerabilities.  


The feedback of participants and the opportunities for collaboration with experts we met will undoubtedly enhance the focus of SheLeadsIT Caribbean Girls Hack on technology training to build a pipeline of women in tech, as future entrepreneurs empowered to play a key role in the region’s economic viability.