Latest news with #GirlCode
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Africa's biggest women-in-tech event expands to 7 cities this October
This Women's Month, let us shine a light on a different kind of power: the innovative spirit that builds, solves, codes, and collaborates. Women in tech are no longer knocking on the door; they're designing and constructing the house of the future. Image: Supplied This Women's Month, forget the stereotype of a lone male coder in a hoodie. Across South Africa and now the rest of the continent, young women are quietly but powerfully rewriting the rules of the tech world, one hack at a time. From building life-changing apps to strengthening Africa's cybersecurity future, women in tech aren't just joining the conversation; they're leading it. The rise of the digital sisterhood In a digital era shaped by artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and financial tech (FinTech), a new force is rising: young African women who are coding with purpose. They're solving everyday challenges from digital banking gaps to healthcare system inefficiencies with skill, speed, and a fierce sense of purpose. At the centre of this movement is GirlCode, a social enterprise changing the face of African tech through education, empowerment, and community. This October, they're back with their flagship event: GirlCodeHack 2025, a 30-hour all-women hackathon spread across seven African cities. 'Our mission is to expose 10 million women and girls to technology by 2030,' says Zandile Mkwanazi, founder and CEO of GirlCode. 'GirlCodeHack is about more than learning to code; it's about building a sisterhood of innovators ready to shape the future of Africa.' At first glance, a tech hackathon might seem like it belongs in the business section. But the link between technology and wellness is more urgent than ever. Think about it: digital platforms power public health apps, mental health access, maternal care tracking, and even online therapy. And yet, if women are left out of tech creation, so are the unique health needs of half the population. In short, more women in tech equals more inclusive health innovation. A study published by UN Women (2024) found that digital solutions designed by women are 3x more likely to focus on community wellness, childcare, women's health, and education areas traditionally overlooked in male-dominated innovation circles. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ This year's GirlCodeHack takes place on October 11–12, synchronising with the International Day of the Girl Child. Image: Supplied Hacking for real change This year's GirlCodeHack takes place from October 11 to 12, aligned with International Day of the Girl Child. It's open to women aged 18 to 35, enrolled in or who have recently graduated from a university or college. Participants will work in teams of two to four, creating tech solutions under the theme: 'Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI.' With R100,000 up for grabs for the top team and seasoned mentors supporting each group, this isn't just a competition; it's a career launchpad. Thanks to a powerful partnership with Absa, GirlCodeHack is going continental this year, expanding beyond South Africa to include Kampala, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Gaborone, alongside Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. For Tamu Dutuma, head of strategy and transformation at Absa, this is more than corporate sponsorship; it's personal. 'Inclusion isn't just something we say, it's something we build,' says Dutuma. 'Bringing more women into tech means unlocking innovation that benefits entire communities. That's why GirlCodeHack is so important: it gives women the tools to lead Africa's digital transformation.' There's an urgency to this mission. According to the World Economic Forum's 2025 Gender Gap Report, women still hold only 26% of data and AI roles globally, and even fewer in Africa. Yet digital literacy is becoming a fundamental life skill much like nutrition, mental health, or reproductive rights.
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
GirlCode Hackathon set to empower women in tech across Africa
What was once a male dominated domain, women are now increasingly making their mark in the tech sector. From classrooms to boardrooms, women are bringing fresh new perspectives. Picture: GirlCode In an ambitious stride towards gender equality and in a world where innovation drives progress, technology continues to shape how we live and work. What was once a male-dominated domain, women are now increasingly making their mark in the tech sector. Taking the lead From classrooms to boardrooms, women are bringing fresh new perspectives, solving complex challenges, and developing solutions that contribute not only to industry growth but also to broader societal impact. In line with this momentum, the annual GirlCodeHack returns on the 11th of October 2025 an expanded footprint across the African continent in partnership with Absa. ALSO READ: Lenovo Robogirl 2022 initiative to upskill women in coding and robotics GirlCode Organised by GirlCode, a social enterprise focused on advancing women in technology, the 2025 edition will take place across seven African cities. The event coincides with the International Day of the Girl Child and aims to create greater access and opportunity for young women aged 18 to 35 through a 30-hour hackathon experience. With a grand prize of R100,000 for the winning team, GirlCodeHack 2025 invites university and college students, as well as recent graduates, to solve problems under the theme: Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI. Participants will collaborate in teams of two to four, focusing on real-world challenges and creating impactful, sustainable solutions. Ten million women Founder and CEO of GirlCode, Zandile Mkwanazi, said their mission is to expose 10 million women and girls to technology by 2030. 'By expanding GirlCodeHack across Africa, our goal is to do more than simply encourage more girls to code, but rather to be part of a sisterhood of innovators in the making that is ready to tackle the continent's most pressing issues'. The hackathon will take place simultaneously in the following cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, and Gaborone. Each location will have seasoned professionals as mentors, providing participants with comprehensive support throughout the event. Entries are now open. Get more info here: ALSO READ: 'Young Women in Tech': Empower your future with free programme
