In support of the International Girls in ICT Day
Compulsory Peace & ICTs Education Campaign from Kindergarten to K-12, and Beyond (8th Session)

Theme: “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future”
Session Title: “ICTs, AI & Space Tech For Girls”
Dedicated to: Pioneer of the GPSDr. Gladys B. West

DREAM, CONNECT, BELONG: AI AND SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EVERY GIRL
Keynote Address by: Ms. Roser Almenar, PhD., Candidate in AI & Space Law, University of Valencia in Spain; Member, ITU Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Board, Representing EU.

This address was part of the 8th Compulsory Peace & ICTs Education campaign, held on April 25 2026. The session explored the intersection of AI, space technology, and gender equality as a catalyst for the UN #PactForTheFuture. #CompulsoryPeaceICTsEdu

DREAM, CONNECT, BELONG: AI AND SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EVERY GIRL

[LMGlobal.Org, New York]
It is truly a privilege to be here with you today, celebrating the International Girls in ICT Day — a day that is not only about technology, but about possibility. Today, I would like to invite you to reflect on three simple but powerful ideas: Dream, Connect, and Belong.

Let me begin with the first one: Dream.

When we think about technology, it can sometimes feel distant or intimidating. We imagine complex systems, advanced coding, or futuristic machines built by people who seem very different from us. But the truth is much simpler, and much more exciting: technology is built by people who once started exactly where you are now — with curiosity, questions, and imagination.

When I was younger, I did not know that one day I would be working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, space technologies, and global policy. Today, I am a PhD candidate in AI & Space Law and a member of the Youth Advisory Board of Mme. Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union. But my journey did not begin with certainty — it began with curiosity. It began with asking questions, with wanting to understand how technology shapes our world, and how it can be used to improve people’s lives.

And that is something I want you to remember: you do not need to have all the answers to start. You just need to be willing to ask questions. Your interests — whether they are in science, creativity, problem-solving, or helping others — are already part of your path. The future of technology does not require perfection. It requires imagination. It requires people who dare to dream.

But dreaming alone is not enough. This brings me to the second idea: Connect.

Let me ask you a simple question: what would your daily life look like without the internet? Envision not being able to access online classes, not being able to search for information, not being able to communicate easily with others. For many of us, this is difficult to imagine. Yet for millions of girls around the world, this is a reality.

When people are disconnected, they are also excluded.

Today, around 2.6 billion people remain offline. Many of them are girls and young women living in rural or remote areas, and many belong to communities that are already underserved. This lack of connectivity is not just about missing technology — it is about missing opportunities. It affects access to education, to healthcare, to economic independence, and to participation in society.

This is what we call the digital divide, and closing it is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Because when people are disconnected, they are also excluded.

So how do we begin to address it?

This is where we turn to one of the most exciting developments in the current technological landscape: the convergence of AI and space technologies.

When we think about space, we often think about astronauts or distant planets. But space is also deeply connected to our everyday lives. Right now, thousands of satellites orbit the Earth. Among them are low-Earth orbit satellites, which are transforming the way we conceive connectivity. These satellites have the ability to bring internet access to places where traditional infrastructure cannot reach.

Satellites form the body of this global system, while AI acts as its brain…

However, satellites alone are insufficient. To make these systems efficient, adaptive, and accessible, we need intelligence. And this is where artificial intelligence plays a crucial role. AI can optimize satellite communication in real time, manage data flows, predict demand, and ensure that connectivity is distributed where it is most needed. In many ways, satellites form the body of this global system, while AI acts as its brain — coordinating, learning, and improving continuously.

Together, AI and space technologies have the potential to connect the unconnected — to bring millions of people into the digital world and unlock opportunities that were previously out of reach. But as powerful as this vision is, it raises an important question.

Not just what technology can do — but who it is built for.
Because technology is not neutral. It reflects the values, priorities, and perspectives of the people who design it. If we are not intentional, technology can reinforce inequalities instead of reducing them. That is why inclusion is essential.
And this is where you come in.
We need more girls not only using technology, but shaping it. We need girls who design systems, who develop solutions, who ask critical questions, and who bring new perspectives into innovation. Because when technology is built by diverse voices, it becomes more inclusive, more ethical, and more effective.

This brings me to the third idea: Belong.

Belonging is not just about being present. It is about recognizing that your perspective has value. That your ideas are worth sharing. That you have a place in the conversations that are shaping the future.
In my own journey, I have often found myself in rooms where I was one of the youngest people, and sometimes one of the few women. And I have learned that leadership is not defined by age or position. It is about courage — the courage to speak, to question, to contribute, and to persist even when you feel uncertain.

As part of the ITU Youth Advisory Board, my role is to ensure that young people’s perspectives are included in global conversations about technology and policy. And through this experience, I have seen something very powerful: when young people are given a seat at the table, they do not just participate — they transform the conversation.And so, I want to tell you this clearly: you do not have to wait to grow up to make an impact. You are already part of this story. You already belong in the future of technology.

Looking ahead, this future is still being written. It is being shaped by the decisions we make today, and by the people who choose to engage with it. For many of you here, that journey is just beginning. And while it may feel distant now, the reality is that such future is much closer than it seems.

Finally, I would like to leave you with three messages.
First, dream boldly. Do not limit yourself based on what you think is possible. The world is constantly changing, and your imagination is part of that change.

Second, stay connected. Learn from others, collaborate, and build networks of support. Technology is not just about systems — it is about people working together.

And third, know that you belong. Your voice matters. Your perspective matters. And your presence in technology is not only valuable — it is necessary.

Because the future we want to build — a future that is inclusive, fair, and full of opportunity — cannot exist without you.
The future is not something we simply step into.
It is something we build.
Together.

_ . _

– Updated on May 10, 2026.