Siemens & UN Women Germany Collaborate on Digital Programme to Empower African girls

A programme to upskill more than 600 young African women in tech fields has been launched by multinational firm Siemens in collaboration with UN Women Germany. The first set of workshops for the programme, which was first introduced in April 2022, begin with a coding camp. In this, young women between the ages of 17 and 25 will receive training in subjects including digital literacy, programming, and job ready skills.

In order to advance young women from South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Rwanda, and Uganda in the computer sector, the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) was created.

This will enable the young participants to pursue studies and professions in the ICT industry by teaching them how to be programmers, coders, and designers.

"We are pleased to partner with UN Women Germany to undertake concerted and systematic action to create development opportunities, particularly for girls and young women, and to address the disadvantages they face," said Sabine Dall'Omo, CEO of Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa.

Elke Ferner, the president of UN Women Germany, stated that when Siemens Germany contacted them, they didn't have to second-guess accepting the project.

At the AGCCI launch event in Midrand on 31^st May , Elke remarked, "We quickly answered yes because we are confident of the aims of the African Girls may Code Initiative and believe girls may be the finest agents of change.

Investment

Siemens has committed R16 million to promoting employability and will give participants laptops in support of coding camps that emphasise digital literacy, coding, personal development, and job preparation skills.

The business has also created and introduced a brand-new mentorship programme called "SieMent EmpowHer," which closely collaborates with AGCCI. The mentorship project will link the 600 girls participating in the upskilling initiative with female specialists and mentors from various Siemens sites across the world.

Dall'Omo said that women have historically been sidelined, particularly in the computer sector, in an interview with New24. Such programmes are designed to help young women advance their skills in fields to which they would not otherwise have access and to enable them to improve South Africa.

Dall'Omo also expects that graduates of the training curriculum would apply their expertise to improve South Africa and deal with global problems.

One of the goals, she stated, is to have a constructive influence on the political climate in the future.

According to Dall'Omo, who spoke to News24, "[For instance], the cost of living has skyrocketed in so many places around the world, so Africa and the labour force here has the potential to be a bright source for the necessary cyber skills needed to address this global issue."