South African advocate Gabriella Powell is not just responsible for helping unconnected.org with its digital design and online presence, but is one of the organisation’s many female ambassadors fighting for inclusivity and gender equality in the digital realm.

In light of International Women's Day, we spoke to the 23-year-old about her unique and personal connection to the digital gender gap, and what it means for her to be a young woman advocating for greater digital inclusion.

Initially drawn in by her first contact with unconnected.org’s superstar CCO, Mea Thompson, for Powell, the authenticity behind which the NGO’s mission was communicated, resonated with her deeply and fuelled her desire to join the team in order to continue contributing meaningfully to the cause.

She recalled: “I found that the organisation sort of matched up and aligned with my personal values, which are inclusivity and empowerment.”

Powell is well aware of the gender disparities prevalent in the telecoms industry, but acknowledges that she has been “very fortunate” to have worked mostly under female leadership within the field.

“I think women have a very good way to communicate," she explains. “It's caring about different aspects of a project. It's just, I don't know what it is, but it's there.”

She emphasises the importance of having female representation and leadership in driving positive change around the world, as Thompson demonstrates from Sweden.

“Even in other countries, to see a female presence in the telecoms industry was inspiring,” she notes.

 “It made me realise the importance of diversity and the contributions women can make in shaping the digital landscape.”

Powell is saddened by the fact that women are not equally represented in all spheres of society, particularly in STEM fields.

“It's not something that we see every day. It's not normalised to see women scientists being celebrated.”

She continued: “I do believe fundamentally it's just when you go to these townships and communities, it's not encouraged; maths, science and technology is not something that they grow up doing because they are at home looking after their siblings.”

Powell's journey towards empowerment within the digital inclusion space has its roots in her personal experiences and upbringing.

Raised in a family immersed in the telecommunications industry, Powell's parents played a pivotal role in shaping her career path.

Reflecting on her childhood, Powell reminisced about pivotal moments that shaped her perspective on gender equality and digital access.

When Powell was around 13 years of age, she went on a trip with her father into the more impoverished parts of South Africa.

“Just seeing and understanding that there's a large group of people that are being left behind, it tore me honestly,” she reflected, “I think if they had at least the skills or the resources we have, they can do something about it or we can do something about it. We can start somewhere.”

The experience in the townships opened Powell’s eyes to the disparities in access to resources, particularly for women and girls in marginalised communities.

This experience planted the seeds of empathy in Powell's mind which has seen her since determined to advocate for change.

“There is a digital gender gap in these townships and communities in rural areas, and I believe that possibly it's just not encouraged culturally.

“If girls have access to the internet, have cellphones or have some sort of a medium that can get them online, they will be exposed to things that will encourage them to sort of close the digital gender gap.”

Years later Powell joined her mother, who is CEO at Project Isizwe, an NPO that started in Tshwane, Pretoria which aims to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to underserved communities, as a NOC administrator before ending up as a digital designer.

“My mother, she was a major role model for me, especially in this space.

“So, I think if females have a role model, especially those in townships and poor communities and don't see any other options if they have something to look at as representative, or an acknowledgement of a woman that has done it, [they will see] there are women that are doing it.

She continued: “I think that's what we should strive for is to show more recognition for the women that are currently doing it and have been doing it.”

In her work with Project Isizwe, Powell did numerous site visits to impoverished areas, and perhaps without realising, she herself might be a role model as she has crafted a career thanks to the opportunities that digital literacy have presented her with.

Reflecting on how her work with Project Isizwe can benefit women and girls in those communities she said: “If they get exposed to connectivity, if they get exposed to knowledge, they will start making decisions that are a little bit more well versed and sort of push that sort of narrative that 'I don't need to be a cook and clean and look after my family', and maybe if that's what I want to do, that's fine, but I have other options, I can improve my circumstance.”

The internet can be a double-edged sword when it comes to safety issues and concerns.

Growing up and residing in Johannesburg, Powell is all too aware of how being digitally connected helps protect her as a woman.

According to Asher and Lyric Fergusson’s Women’s Danger Index, South Africa was ranked as the most dangerous of the 50 countries measured.

South Africa ranked the worst for the intentional homicide of women, and it is estimated that over 40% of South African women will be raped in their lifetime.

“It's not safe on the streets. I wouldn't walk anywhere, maybe I would drive somewhere, but it's not safe to drive at night either,” she explains.

“I think Gauteng (the province in which Johanesburg is the capital) probably has the one of the highest-ranking reports of rape and I think it's very necessary for all women and girls to be educated, or at least have multiple digital, tools or platforms that you can use to manage your safety.

Powell feels considerably safer having her mobile phone, not only to reach out to family and friends in case of an emergency, but as a precaution as she consistently shares her location via WhatsApp and can easily find out information about reports of dangerous areas to avoid.

What’s more, with the integration of the internet into other aspects of life, Powell explains that as a woman the internet helps her feel protected as she can work, socialise and learn without having to step outside of her “safe place”.

The internet can even be a resource for her to manage her health in a non-intrusive way, using a flow app to manage her cycle.

In spite of all of these protective benefits of the internet, she is still aware that digital spaces are far from perfect.

“Both genders can feel unsafe on the internet but specifically for women we will get catcalled in real life and then you get catcalled on the internet.

“I’ve been targeted online, I don't know if it's because I'm a woman, but I think that it's it makes it easier for women to get targeted because most women I would say are very socially active online and putting information out there especially youngsters and teens they love to show sort of who they are and I think it can be really like dangerous because predators could be out there.”

There are clearly systemic issues to fight as issues regarding women’s safety have moved from the analogue space into the virtual space, and measures of course need to be put in place to make the internet as safe as possible for women and girls.

When asked about her thoughts on International Women’s Day, Powell explained it was a day of celebration and remembrance to mark the women who have fought for her to have the life she has, and to recognise the women who are still fighting that struggle.

The work doesn’t stop here for Powell, nor for the countless other heroines doing their bit to make the world a more equitable place amongst both genders.

“It doesn't mean that we can't do more and we shouldn't still fight for the multiple women that are still trapped in the back in the 50s.”

For Powell, it is not just women who need to be fighting the good fight but in order to close the digital gender gap, male allies are just as important.

“All we need is just to be heard,” she expressed, “I think the reason why I'm so safe is because of my dad. He taught me how to be safe. It wasn't always my mum saying 'be careful'. It was most predominantly my dad encouraging me to stay safe.

“I do think that it’s about being able to empathise or understand on a basic level – that’s what it's about.”