TORONTO and WATERLOO, ON, March 8,
2021 /PRNewswire/ -- To mark International
Women's Day, Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada (GGC) and BlackBerry
Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today announced the success of
their joint cybersecurity skills-based program, with more than
5,600 GGC members across the country earning Digital
Defenders crests; proof of their newfound cyber-smarts.
Announced in November 2019
and designed to provide girls with the necessary skill-set to spark
early interest in the cybersecurity industry, the Girl Guide-led
program encouraged participants to take a "how stuff works"
approach to cybersecurity, giving them a robust and in-depth look
at the topics through play and discovery-based
learning.
In addition to the more than 5,600 girls who were awarded with
GGC's first ever cybersecurity crest, over the course of the
year long partnership, Girl Guides tackled nearly 20,000 different
activities – both online and in-person as part of the program.
Through the program, girls (from the ages of 5 – 18) had the
chance to dive into things like how computers work, how data
travels, what hacking is all about and how cybersecurity creates
layers of protection. From solving puzzles as part of a
cybersecurity-inspired escape room, completing a paint-based colour
mixing activity to understand encryption, playing tag-based games
to explore how different types of malware can infect your computer
and much more, Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers
across the country worked to complete a set number of activities
and modules that taught them various cybersecurity skills.
"We're thrilled with the program's results and the fact that so
many girls saw value in becoming cybersecurity savvy while learning
about the consequences and dangers of unsafe online behaviors that
could potentially put them, their device or their personal
information at risk," said Sarah
Tatsis, VP, Advanced Technology Development Labs,
BlackBerry. "The Digital Defenders program has allowed girls to
develop critical cybersecurity skills – of particular importance
right now as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced them to participate
in countless virtual activities and extended periods of remote
learning. With the cybersecurity industry facing a significant
talent – and gender gap – a big part of the program's aim was to
'spark' cybersecurity interest at a young age and I'm confident
that many now see how interesting and valuable these foundational
skills are and that there are many career opportunities out there
in which they can make a difference with their newfound
cyber-smarts."
"At Girl Guides of Canada,
we've always empowered girls with the necessary skills they need to
excel," said Jill Zelmanovits, CEO, GGC. "We're thrilled that
the program was so well received and has become even more relevant
for girls today as they navigate the current tech landscape and are
emersed in more extended periods of online learning due to current
pandemic protocols. Programs like Digital Defenders that encourage
girls to dive in, ask curious questions, problem-solve and explore
how technology works serve as an important incubator to foster
girls' confidence that technology can be a very rewarding career
path."
"I learned a lot about cybersecurity through the Digital
Defenders program," said Victoria
Huk, an Ontario Ranger. "The information was much more
current and detailed than what I would have learned in school. Most
of the information we get in school revolves around not talking to
strangers online, and we don't learn much about cybersecurity. I
liked that Digital Defenders included tips that are practical for
protecting yourself, such as the importance of creating a strong
password and updating it. Overall, I thought it was a great program
that was current and engaging."
To learn more about the GGC and BlackBerry "Digital Defenders"
program, please visit www.girlguides.ca/digitaldefenders.
About BlackBerry
BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB)
provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises
and governments around the world. The company secures more
than 500M endpoints including
175M cars on the road today.
Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the
company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative
solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy
solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security,
endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems.
BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can
trust.
BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.
For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow
@BlackBerry.
Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and
EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are
expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any
third-party products or services.
About Girl Guides of Canada
Girl Guides of
Canada–Guides du Canada (GGC) empowers every girl in
Guiding to discover herself and be everything she wants to be. In
Guiding, girls from 5-17 meet with girls their own age in a safe,
inclusive space to explore what matters to them. Options to support
girls in virtual Guiding are in place to ensure they can continue
to enjoy a wide range of programming options like STEM activities,
discussions on mental health and healthy relationships. Girl Guides
is where girls take the lead, put their ideas into action and jump
into awesome activities – all with the support of engaged leaders
who are committed to positively impacting their lives. Guiding is
all about supporting girls as they take on challenges and grab hold
of every opportunity that comes their way. For more information
visit GirlGuides.ca and follow @girlguidesofcanada.
Media Contact:
BlackBerry Media Relations
+1 (519) 597-7273
mediarelations@BlackBerry.com
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SOURCE BlackBerry Limited