CBW-A & Kodris: 1M Girls in Africa Coding Initiative

The Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW-A) has partnered with technology startup Kodris Africa to teach fundamental coding skills to one million girls across 22 African nations in a game-changing effort to close the digital gender gap. This ground-breaking effort aims to transform STEM education for females and unleash their potential in the twenty-first century.

Nana Wanjau, CBW-A's Vice President for Africa, stressed that the 1 million females coding effort is more than just an educational program; it is a catalyst for change. CBW-A strives to create a future for Africa where creativity and opportunity transcend gender boundaries by equipping girls with digital-age skills.

The collaboration targets not just the digital skills gap, but also identifies and trains instructors to organize online learning for the participating girls. A transparent mechanism will assure equitable selection throughout the 22 Commonwealth nations where CBW-A operates, and the girls' cohort will get interesting learning materials.

Wanjau emphasized the issue of girls' underrepresentation in STEM professions across Africa, underlining the critical need to break down cultural barriers and provide quality STEM education. According to UNESCO, women account for just 28% of worldwide STEM graduates, with Africa seeing even higher discrepancies.

Mugomo Munene, CEO of Kodris Africa, expressed confidence in the program's success. The cooperation seeks to provide girls with 21st-century skills, allowing them to fully engage in the global digital economy while also supporting economic growth and establishing a more equitable society. Munene underlined the potential for these coding abilities to open doors to online career prospects, allowing girls to work remotely and get compensation from the comfort of their own homes as they mature.