BusinessTech has reported that the tech environment still remains male-dominated. A meagre 25% of roles are filled by women. However, many businesses and innovators in South Africa is trying to change that. GirlCode is one such role player that aims to empower women to join the tech sphere, solve the unemployment crisis in South Africa and potentially lead to women-owned technology businesses.
Established in 2014 as a women-only hackathon to address the inequality and gender gap in the tech space, GirlCode empowers women and girls with tech skills by providing them with a platform to learn to code and develop their digital literacy. “Through coding clubs, online courses, and skills development programmes, GirlCode equips young women with the necessary skills to pursue careers in the tech industry,” says Zandile Mkwanazi, the founder of GirlCode. With this approach, the skills gap in the sector is directly addressed and women are prepared for the in-demand jobs of the future.
“GirlCode is not merely training women and girls to become employees in the tech industry; our mission is far more ambitious. By equipping young women with robust tech skills, GirlCode is cultivating a generation of problem solvers and innovators capable of addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges,” she explains.
More Than Social Impact
What started as an innovative social effort more than a decade ago has turned into a successful non-profit organisation that inspires women to build their own tech businesses. “It’s about creating individuals who can develop tech-driven solutions for issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and healthcare,” Mkwanazi adds.
Some of the roles that were secured by participants software engineers, testers, and business analysts within various tech companies across South Africa.
The hackathon initially started as a small-scale event to help the company where Mkwanazi worked to recruit more female software developers since the traditional recruitment methods were not yielding results. “We were overwhelmed by the response and the passion we saw in these young women. It became clear that there was a significant gap in the market for this kind of initiative and that’s when we realised that to create sustainable impact, we needed to transform our initiative into a non-profit organisation.
“By formalising our structure, we could secure funding, partnerships, and resources necessary to scale our mission and make a lasting difference in the lives of young women.
Building The Future of Women in Tech with Strategic Partnerships
GirlCode recently formed a strategic partnership with Vuma to inspire and nurture young girls’ interest in STEM fields. Their collaboration focuses on creating a robust pipeline of female talent for the tech industry. Vuma’s involvement in GirlCode Career Days is instrumental in exposing young girls in primary and high school to the diverse range of career opportunities available in tech.
“By providing first-hand insights into the industry, our career days encourage girls to develop a passion for STEM subjects and consider pursuing tech-related paths.”
Mkwanazi says that coding classes are offered in a number of South African urban schools, making fibre connectivity crucial to support digital technology and e-learning, and expanding access to more schools. “Through the Vuma Fibre to Schools programme, the fibre network operator (FNO) has connected over 780 schools to free 1Gbps fibre broadband Internet, where most of these GirlCode Career Days take place.
Through this partnership, we are creating a comprehensive ecosystem that supports women at every stage of their tech journey, from sparking initial interest to securing fulfilling careers. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to gender equality and the growth of the tech industry in South Africa.
Zandile Mkwanazi Has Made GirlCode Grow From Strength to Strength
Mkwanazi devotes most of her time to growing GirlCode and getting more women involved in technology. “GirlCode is my primary focus and takes up most of my time. It’s a full-time commitment for myself and the twelve incredible women on our team.
“We’ve structured GirlCode as a social enterprise, which means we’ve developed additional ventures to ensure its long-term sustainability. One such venture is GirlCode Talent, our recruitment arm dedicated to placing our graduates into tech companies. While these initiatives contribute to GirlCode’s overall mission, my core focus remains on empowering young women through coding education.
GirlCode supports women in developing their tech skills through various initiatives:
- Coding clubs: Providing a fun and engaging environment for young girls in primary and high school to learn coding.
- Online courses: Offering flexible learning opportunities for women to acquire tech skills.
- Learnerships: Equipping unemployed female graduates with job-ready skills.
- Mentorship and networking opportunities: Connecting women with industry professionals to provide guidance and support.
By offering a comprehensive range of programmes, GirlCode empowers women to build a strong foundation in technology and pursue successful careers in the tech industry.
