AkiraChix is not a new name in Kenya. The women-led organization has been kicking arse since its establishment in 2010.
The women-led organization was founded by four women, Angela Lungati, Judith Owigar, Linda Kamau and Marie Githinji who, being techies themselves, realized how underrepresented women are in the tech sector. Consequently, Akirachix came into being to help young women and girls discover the tech world and realize their potential in excelling in it.
By doing this, the co-founders have made notable steps one being an increase in the number of women in the tech space by providing training, mentorship, and outreach programs.
Since its establishment, the organization has been doing a great job of expanding access to STEM education to young women in Kenya through various programs.
The organization runs several programs to ensure that their vision of developing a successful force of women in science and technology becomes a reality.
Its programs are developed to reach young women at different levels, those at the Primary school, High School and University, those pursuing a career in technology as well as those aspiring to have a career in technology. In short, the programs leave no woman behind.
The programs and events
codeHive gives young girls an opportunity to develop a capacity as well as connect them to the demands of the current market demands. The program consists of a curriculum that is taught by industry experts that are still active in their various fields with a focus on the young women being ‘job ready’ at the end of the year. The curriculum currently includes Python, Hardware & Mechanical, Mobile Development, Front End Development, Graphic Design, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship.
In 2011, AkiraChix developed a high school outreach program to encourage female students to select careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The program entails bi-weekly sessions, boot camps, and Girls in ICT Day.
Teens have also been left behind. The Genius Skwad & Dev Skwad programs are both focussed on exposing children and teens respectively to technology responsibly. To achieve this objective AkiraChix has partnered with some local primary and secondary schools allowing the organization to interact with their students both during the school term and during the school holidays (They run one-week long boot camps during the holidays)
The GGFest (Greek Girl Festival) is yet another opportunity for girls to learn how to program and solve problems as they participate in interactive computational-thinking activities. This is an all-day event for high schoolers and university students.
AkiraChix also organizes the African Women in Tech event. The Annual Africa Women in Tech conference (AWTC) attracts hundreds of women and girls from Africa and presents a unique opportunity for peer to peer learning as well as highlighting technological innovations and advancements.
To learn more about AkiraChix and its activities, visit the website.
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