Lujain Rayes

Lujain Rayes, 24, works as an assistant in the Business and Computer department at Effat College in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A native of Jeddah, Lujain holds her bachelors degree in business and marketing, and had some basic IT skills from using a computer in her work and daily life. When she heard about the Women in Technology (WIT) training course being offered at Effat College, she decided to sign up, hoping to further improve her computer skills.

Having completed her WIT course in July 2007, Lujain encourages other women to join the program. These days, she points out, “All jobs require computer skills. Everyone should at least have the basic skills.”

“Women represent half of our society, and women’s development improves our society,” Lujain believes. A program that simplifies computer basics and makes them accessible to everyone can be extremely beneficial.

Looking ahead, Lujain sees opportunities everywhere. She is eager to improve her English and improve her computer networking capabilities. “My mother didn’t finish her education and she has no computer skills,” Lujain says. However, her family has been “very supportive” of Lujain as she pursues further IT training, works toward a higher degree, and strives to establish a higher position in society. Her ideal job would be to work in an economic field or in human resources.

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Modi Al-Harbi

Modi Al-Harbi, 27 years old, calls her mother her role model: “She didn’t complete her education, but she encourages me to do so,” she says. Modi, who holds a bachelors degree in mathematics, recently completed a training course in Information Technology (IT) and professional development through the Women in Technology (WIT) program at Effat College, in Jeddah.

“I heard about the program through one of my relatives,” she says, and she was pleasantly surprised by the low enrollment fees. Modi made time for her courses while balancing her responsibilities as a mother and a housewife, and she completed the program in August 2007. Her family was encouraging and supportive throughout.

Inspired by her mother, Modi is devoted above all to children—her own, and those in her community with special needs. Her dream isn’t to find a high-paying job in the IT industry; Modi sees no obstacles that would prevent her from finding such a job, but, she says, “I prefer to raise my children.” At the same time, she is currently taking a training course in caring for children with special needs. Her dream job is to work as a volunteer with special needs children, while raising her own family.

Modi sees computer skills as a form of development for women, and for their children. “I benefitted a lot from this program,” she says, “and my children’s education will be even more advanced.”

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