Four Sarikei students off to the US for Technovation Girls World Summit

SARIKEI (July 24): The Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development is proudly sending off four talented students here to the prestigious Technovation Girls World Summit in the United States this October.

The ministry announced that Team Agape, consisting of Eunice Law, Irene Ngu, Jaynee Loo, and Christine Wong, will represent Sarawak after securing their spot among the top five global finalists in the senior category for Technovation Girls 2024.

“These young innovators will have the unique opportunity to network with other global finalists, gain inspiration from leading women in the technology industry, and present their groundbreaking project on an international stage competing with teams from England, Chile, the USA, and Canada.

“Team Agape’s artificial intelligence (AI) mobile application, designed to detect and assist with coordination challenges faced by special needs children in Malaysia, has garnered significant attention,” it said in a statement.

The app offers customised learning solutions with interactive features to address individual learning difficulties with a ‘Talk’ feature, enabling speech-challenged individuals to communicate through symbols and text, promoting inclusivity.

Their achievement, from among 3,200 tech-based projects submitted globally from 62 countries, highlights their outstanding talent and dedication.

Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee was present to officiate the flag-off ceremony at SMK Tinggi Sarikei, coinciding with the launch of the Girlscode Mobile App Challenge 2024, recently.

Speaking on Girlscode, Dr Annuar said the programme had impacted over 600 female students in Malaysia, sparking their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

“The initiative is crucial in addressing the gender gap in STEM, particularly in engineering, where female participation remains low.

“My ministry, together with the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), has and is supporting Girlscode.

“The success of programmes like Girlscode highlights the potential of our youth and their ability to achieve extraordinary things given the right support and opportunities,” he said, adding that the Mobile App Challenge is set to begin in the first week of August.