Cultivating the Dreams and Goals of Youth With Disabilities
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By News Reporter
104 Young Participants From 16 Countries Showcase IT Skills,
Embracing New AI and Coding Challenges
SEOUL, Nov. 8, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) recently concluded the 2024 Global IT Challenge (GITC) for Youth with Disabilities in Manila, Philippines, reinforcing its commitment to empowering young people with disabilities. Held from November 3-8, this year’s GITC brought together 104 participants from 16 countries to compete in six innovative IT challenges.
After advancing through national preliminary rounds, the finalists tested their abilities across diverse digital tasks. The challenges included eTool, which assessed participants’ ability to create presentation slides and manage spreadsheets; eLifeMap, which focused on online search and image retrieval skills; eContent, an evaluation of video editing and production capabilities; and eCreative, where participants coded a self-driving car program and proposed technological concepts aimed at enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities.
This year, GITC introduced a new assessment for generative AI proficiency, allowing participants to demonstrate adaptability and creativity – skills increasingly sought after in the IT field.
The 2024 GITC winner, Zulzahirah Binti Mohd Anwar from Malaysia, excelled across multiple categories, expressing pride in competing alongside peers with shared aspirations and in building global friendships.
Since its inception in 2011, GITC has opened pathways into the IT profession for young people with disabilities, equipping them with ICT skills and boosting their confidence. Over 13 years, the competition has seen approximately 5,000 young participants from 40 countries, with many alumni pursuing successful careers in IT and related fields. Notably, Aikeo Koomanivong, a visually impaired 2014 participant, now directs a disability service center in Laos, where he has pioneered accessible technologies, including free braille software.
Aligned with LG’s Better Life for All vision, GITC embodies the company’s broader commitment to diversity and inclusion. LG is also actively working to enhance the accessibility of its services and products through initiatives such as the LG Comfort Kit, braille stickers and sign language customer service centers.
“GITC has been a stepping stone for nearly 5,000 young adults with disabilities, empowering them to overcome barriers and become competitive IT talent,” said Yoon Dae-sik, senior vice president of External Relations at LG Electronics. “We remain dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities as they refine their skills and build self-confidence, helping them realize their dreams in IT field.”
Through GITC and similar initiatives, LG continues to champion inclusivity and accessibility, providing young people with disabilities the tools and support needed to thrive in a technology-driven world.
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By News Reporter
About 500 Participants Come Together for Preliminary Rounds
Ahead of Finals in Abu Dhabi
SEOUL, July 31, 2023 — LG Electronics (LG) hosted the two-day online preliminary round of the 2023 Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) with the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea and Rehabilitation International Korea on July 25.
LG Corporation, in conjunction with South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, has been leading the GITC since 2011. The program was established to strengthen the ICT capabilities of young people with disabilities while establishing a strong foundation that promotes their social inclusion. Run by LG Electronics and the GITC Organizing Committee, the competition has attracted a total of around 4,500 youth with disabilities from 38 countries who have benefited from the program so far.
This year, about 500 youth with disabilities selected through local preliminary rounds across 17 countries have competed in 6 competitions to earn their place in the finals, which will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in October 2023. Certificates and prize money will be awarded to outstanding performers in each event and disability category.
The competitions not only evaluate their skills in various computer programs, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and internet search engines, but also test their ability to make and edit videos, use programs for self-driving car programing, and develop IT that improves the lives of persons with disabilities. Teams of 4 or fewer could participate in each contest, with this year’s GITC extra special as it is debuting an esports competition with no restrictions in participation by the type or degree of disability.
Participating countries are continuously being added. From this year, countries outside of South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian countries can compete, as the GITC expands to countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
More and more of the youth with disabilities from the GITC are going on to thrive in society. For example, Chan Outdam Keo and Paramuditaya Dyan, the winners of the Global IT Leader (MVP) award at the 2014 Busan GITC and 2015 Indonesia GITC, respectively, are now making a name for themselves as IT developers in top government agencies.
“The experience I gained from this competition has been invaluable to my development as it completely changed my mindset,” said Keo. “I was able to change my way of thinking and foster my dream of improving the field related to my disability.”
The company is continuing its efforts to realize a Better Life for All by ensuring its products and services are accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical ability. This includes operating a sign language counseling center, providing product manuals with video, sign language, voice support and distributing braille stickers for home appliances. Additionally, the company has been running a disabled advisory group since last year and continues to listen to customers’ greatest inconveniences and address them.
“The Global IT Challenge is all about building a foundation that allows people with disabilities to integrate better into society, with former participants proving that they can have a successful career in the IT field,” said Yoon Dae-sik, senior vice president of External Relations at LG Electronics. “As a global company, we will always strive to support youth with disabilities so that they can pursue their passions and live out their dreams.”
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By News Reporter
Attracting More Than 320 Participants From Around the World,
GITC Continues to Empower Youth With Disabilities for Eleventh Year
SEOUL, Nov. 21, 2022 — LG Electronics hosted the final round of the 11th Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) last week. The two-day event saw inspiring, young participants from all over the world test their skills for computer-based activities in a series of timed challenges. Adopting a hybrid online and offline format, several key participating countries including Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam set up venues locally as well.
Following the success of the GITC’s preliminary round in August, registrations were high for the competition’s last stage. Ultimately, more than 320 participants from 16 countries were invited to join in the final round which was held online. After competing in four challenges – eTool, eLifeMap, eContent and eCreative – the young contestants gathered both in-person and online for an awards ceremony that acknowledged this year’s winners while also allowing everyone to come together and share experiences.
The eTool challenge tests entrants’ ability to make and edit presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint and utilize functions and formulae to calculate and organize data in Microsoft Excel. eLifeMap involves conducting advanced text and image searches online to solve daily problems, while eContent evaluates one’s capacity to create and edit videos dealing with a specific topic. Lastly, the eCreative challenge, which is divided into two sections, tasks participants with coding a self-driving car program (eCreative_SmartCar) and with developing an idea for technology to make life more convenient for persons with disabilities (eCreative_IoT).
LG Corporation, in conjunction with South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, has been leading the GITC since 2011. The program was established to help youth with disabilities by bridging the digital gap, enhancing their ability to utilize IT to improve their employment and higher education opportunities. Run by LG Electronics and the GITC Organizing Committee, and now in its eleventh year, the competition has attracted a total of around 4,000 young participants to date.
Using the GITC as a stepping stone for academic and professional pursuits, participants have continued to challenge themselves to accomplish their dreams after the competition. Faiza Pulri Adila from Indonesia, who won the all-around championship in the 2018 GITC, is studying nanotechnology engineering at Airlangga University in Indonesia. In addition, Cheenmanee Tnanapon from Thailand, the first person with developmental disabilities to win the all-round championship in the 2016 GITC, is taking the lead in raising disability awareness by appearing on popular Thai TV programs.
“I’ve worked very hard for many days with my friends for the competition because I thought this opportunity was perfect for me to keep pushing myself to improve my skills,” said Varinporn Thongjamnong, a 19-year-old from Thailand and winner of all-around championship in the 2022 Global IT Challenge. “I’m honored to be this year’s Global IT Winner, which I’m confident will motivate me to study even harder to achieve my dreams.”
“Technologies can help all of us to overcome obstacles in our daily lives and is something of a universal language that transcends borders, culture and many other differences,” said Kim In-kyu, chairman of the GITC Organizing Committee. “We hope that the wonderful young people who entered this year’s competition feel motivated and empowered to take on even greater challenges in the future.”
As highlighted in LG’s Better Life Plan 2030, the GITC is one of the company’s many initiatives in the key areas of accessibility and inclusion. LG is investing heavily in future generations as part of its comprehensive social contribution framework, and will continue to operate various events and programs specifically designed to assist and support the next generation of leaders by strengthening their skills and capabilities.
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By News Reporter
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