[2024 GITC Participant] Part 1. Dino Hayat Abdela from Ethiopia > Participants' Story Global IT Challenge

Meet 2024 GITC Final Round Participants [1. Dino Hayat Abdela from Ethiopia]

Hello, this is the GITC Secretariat :)

From November 3 to 8, during the 2024 GITC Final Round, we had interviews with participants on-site, and now we'd like to share those stories with you! Let's meet the first participant, Dino Hayat Abdela from Ethiopia!

Q. Hello! Could you please tell us your name and age?
A. My name is Hayat Abdela, and I’m 23 years old.

Q. What kind of disability do you have, and when did it occur?
A. I have a physical disability. It happened when I was 4 years old after I tripped over a rock and fell on the street. I couldn’t walk until I was 6, but I underwent surgery and regained the ability to walk.

Q. Thank you for sharing. Could you tell us how you came to participate in this year’s GITC?

A. This is my second time at GITC! I got this opportunity through the LG Hope School in Ethiopia.

Q. This is your second time! When was your first participation, and how is it different from this year?
A. My first participation was last year in Abu Dhabi. Back then, I competed in the Basic Competitions and eContent categories but lacked a lot of experience. This year, I am participating in the Basic Competitions, eCreative_IoT, and eCreative_Smart Car categories.

Q. You've competed in most of the categories over the two years! That’s amazing! Were you originally interested in IT?
A. Yes, I learned software engineering in the 11th grade, and it became my dream to work in this field. Although full accessibility for people with disabilities is not guaranteed, my school provided a fully accessible curriculum. I really enjoyed this, and I want to continue studying in this field.
I want to learn more about software and explore coding further.

Q. That’s an incredible dream, and we’ll always support you! So this year and last year, you came overseas to participate in GITC competition. Can you share how it feels to participate in a competition abroad?
A. It’s truly exciting and an amazing experience. I get to see technologies from other countries and represent my own country to the best of my ability, which makes me very happy!

Dino Hayat Abdela is a passionate young woman in her 20s with a clear vision for the future. Her potential shines brightly, and we are excited to see where her journey takes her. Through this brief interview, we gained valuable insight into who Dino is as a person. The GITC Secretariat team will continue to support her journey toward becoming a software expert!