Tanzanian tech project encourages girls in programming
The Tanzanian non-profit organization Apps and Girls is educating girls in programming and digital literacy. The initiative aims to bridge the digital gender divide.
In Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam, the non-profit organization Apps and Girls is working to inspire girls to pursue programming. The organization provides training in digital literacy and programming languages like HTML, focusing specifically on young women.
Through weekly "coding clubs," girls get hands-on experience with computers and programming. Apps and Girls also organizes workshops in schools nationwide and trains teachers to impart fundamental digital skills. The goal is to equip girls with future career competencies and address the digital gender gap that may widen with the country's rapid digitalization.
Tanzania's technology sector is experiencing rapid growth, with its youth actively developing new solutions. A "technology ecosystem" has emerged, particularly in Dar es Salaam, where major telecom operators and numerous startups operate in close proximity. Despite the potential of this "Silicon Dar" area, many young women still face challenges entering the tech industry.
Apps and Girls operates in a region where mobile internet usage has surged dramatically over the past decade. The organization receives funding from entities including the telecom operator Tigo. Its efforts aim to encourage girls to engage with the technology sector from an early age, offering them opportunities to become future leaders in technology.