Now in our fifth year, Mariella Frostrup has supported the Tech4Good Awards since the very beginning. The official compère at the Awards ceremony, Mariella has been active in the charity sector for over 20 years and in 2010 she founded The GREAT Initiative with Karen Ruimy and Jason McCue.

GREAT was born out of frustration. Frustration with women and men fighting each other, when they should be fighting together. Frustration with the dwindling excitement needed for successful campaigns, the likes of which haven’t been seen since Make Poverty History and Live Aid. Frustration at society’s perception of what it means to be ‘a man’, and what feminism means for gender equality.

The GREAT Initiative

GREAT was set up to be a catalyst for change. Through collaborative projects, explorative workshops and innovative campaigns, they give women a stronger voice, men a chance to question gender stereotyping and children a world where gender discrimination is eradicated.

One of GREAT’s flagship collaborations supports Liberia Women’s Democracy Radio, a women-led radio station which gives rural communities access to essential information in an engaging way. Mariella explains why empowering women through technology is so important:

“When women are trying to change opinions in their communities, it is often very difficult, as they do not have the platform they need to be effective. With a partner organisation we are developing a programme that trains women to use film to change the opinions and actions of their communities.”

To find out more about The GREAT Initiative visit their website, and to find more examples of Tech4Good in Action visit the Tech4Good YouTube channel.

Don’t forget, there’s still time to enter this year’s Tech4Good Awards! Visit the Enter Now page and tell us who you think should win each of these seven Awards this year. Entry closes on Friday 8th May at 5pm.