By Vymala Thuron The digitalisation of our lives and work was a key and accelerating trend long before COVID-19 began to change our world in 2020. However, as connectivity became a lifeline for both individuals and businesses during lockdown periods, the pandemic has pushed forward the adoption of technology much faster and wider than […]
Change the talk, challenge the norms, celebrate successes A few weeks ago we celebrated the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) annual International Girls in ICT Day. The theme of this year’s celebration, “Access and Safety”, focused on two key factors that continue to keep both girls and women from benefitting from technology and internet access. […]
Aziza was only going to serve the tea. But when she saw what other women were learning during AFCHIX’s digital literacy training sessions, she knew she had to join in. So, instead of waiting to provide the refreshments during training breaks, she sat down behind a computer herself. “The workshops enabled me to enter the […]
“J’ai un téléphone portable normal qui n’a pas de service Internet, mais à la maison, mon fils a un smartphone avec accès Internet. Je l’utilise quand il est à la maison », explique Fatima, une mère et femme au foyer de 54 ans, sur la façon dont elle peut utiliser Internet.” Fatima est l’une des 60 […]
Persistent income inequality creates a vicious cycle keeping women from gaining access to mobile devices and internet connectivity – the very tools that can help them empower themselves economically in the digital post-COVID era. According to the World Wide Web Foundation, affordability is one of the key drivers of digital inclusion and a key […]
By Mari Blumenthal “I have a normal mobile phone that does not have internet service, but at home, my son has a smartphone with internet access. I use it when he is home,” says Fatima, a 54-year-old mother and housewife about how she can use the internet. Fatima is one of about 60 […]
By Vymala Thuron If you are reading this blog post, you most likely take the internet for granted as an indispensable part of your daily life. Businesses, economies, and even personal relationships have all come to rely on internet connectivity to function or thrive. Yet, this is only true for around half of the […]
By Vymala Thuron AfChix – a network of African women in technology – will train more local women in Ait Izdeg commune, province of Midelt, on how to use the internet and expand the reach of a network managed by the local community to connect more households there to the internet. AfChix is […]
By Vymala Thuron AfChix – un réseau de femmes africaines en technologie – formera davantage de femmes de la commune de Aït Izdeg, dans la province de Midelt, à l’usage d’Internet et étend la portée d’un réseau géré par la communauté locale pour connecter davantage de ménages à Internet. AfChix est l’un des […]
Emily Echas says she taught herself to sew. Emily (62) lives in Groot Aub, a rural community to the south of Namibia’s capital of Windhoek. The sandy settlement has a population of over 6000 and mostly consists of pensioners and small scale farmers. Poverty is widespread. Despite not having any formal education, Emily has […]
by Vymala Thuron and Mari Blumenthal The next phase of a project previously championed by Lanet-Umoja’s well-known “Tweeting Chief, the late Francis Kariuki, will soon see this rural community connecting an increasing number of paying subscribers to the internet through a network managed from within its own ranks. As one of the winners in […]
By Mari Blumenthal & Vymala Thuron AfChix chosen as a winner of the #WomenConnectChallenge to continue a project using community networks and training to close the digital gender divide in Africa AfChix is enabling women in rural Kenya, Senegal, Namibia, and Morocco to take the lead in connecting their communities to the internet […]
By Vymala Thuron African economies are making bold moves to speed up digitalisation and transformation. We want women to play a key part in that. In a new partnership agreement, we are committing to closing the digital gender gap and helping women embrace technology to drive change. Africa’s growing Internet economy has the […]
Our proposed solution entails working with unconnected communities to build their capacities to establish and maintain community-based and owned telecommunications infrastructure. Most of African homes and businesses do not have access to fixed broadband through fiber or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). Looking at the income patterns of individuals and small-scale businesses, most get to […]
In the year 1998, I joined the University of Nairobi as a freshman. In our computer labs, we had Internet access. At the time, no other university in Kenya provided Internet access to students. The Internet first became available in Kenya during 1993. Full Internet access was established in 1995. Interestingly, African Regional Centre for […]
In 2018 AfChix won a grant from USAID under the WomenConnect Challenge (WCC) to create entrepreneurial opportunities for rural women in Senegal, Morocco, Kenya, and Namibia to facilitate local Internet Services and work as network engineers. The AfChix initiative contributes to improving connectivity and building the capacities of communities to establish and maintain telecommunications infrastructure. […]
Mrs. Fatimata Seye Sylla, Engineer Specialist in ICT in education, teacher training, and education policy development Experience in project management, social mobilization, public private partnerships, and gender Madam Fatimata Seye Sylla holds a Master of Science from the Media Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Technology University degree (DUT) in Computer Science […]
Mrs Houda Chakiri is CEO and founder of Enhanced Technologies, a Moroccan IT company specializing in developing, integrating and deploying e-Government web solutions www.enhanced-tech.ma. Selected among top ten finalists of Sawaed contest http://www.enhanced-tech.ma/index.php?lang=english, named among 100 best social entrepreneurs in GK3, Malaysia 2007, selected in Techwomen program 2012 funded by the US department of […]
Prof Awa NIANG est Directrice de l’Institut Supérieur d’Enseignement Professionnel (ISEP) de Richard-Toll. Professeur Titulaire en Electronique elle a dirigé le Département Génie Mécanique de l’Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP) de l’UCAD de 2011 à 2013. Elle mène ses recherches en collaboration avec différents laboratoires de recherche en France. Elle a été chercheur contractuel du CNRS en […]
Ms. Dorcas Muthoni, Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa (Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)-Barcelona) | World Economic Forum Global Council Member on Technology Values and Policy | Internet Hall of Fame Inductee | World Economic Forum Young Global Leader| Top 40 Under 40 Women 2014 in Kenya | Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology’s Change Agent […]
Titulaire d’un diplôme d’ingénieur en informatique à l’Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique de Dakar; Awa Caba est entrepreneur et consultante en IT appliqué à l’agro-business. Elle a complété ses études avec une formation en “Business & Entrepreneurship” à l’université de Iowa aux Etats-Unis. Awa est Cofondatrice et Directrice de Sooretul; la première plateforme digitale de promotion des […]
“Anna Secka Saine is currently the Senior ISP/Data manager at QCell, Gambia Ltd. and manages both the GSM/GPRS Data and ISP networks. She has held this position for the past three years. She has also been working with NSRC for the past three years as a part-time Network Engineer and Trainer. Anna has been working […]
Les TIC ont apportés d’importantes révolutions dans les pays en développement et notamment en Afrique. On doit donc se poser la question de savoir quels sont les avantages que bénéficient les femmes dans notre sociétés minés par les problèmes d’inclusion et d’exclusion sociale généralisés ? Quels sont les usages qu’en font les femmes africaines de […]
ICTs have brought major revolutions in developing countries, particularly in Africa. We must therefore ask ourselves what benefits we derive in our societies undermined by the problems of social inclusion and exclusion are widespread. What uses do African women make of them? Women and ICT use in Africa In Africa, women use ICTs in […]
Madhvi Gokool joined AFRINIC in 2010 and now holds the position of Registration Services Manager. She has been involved in interactions with the AFRICAN community as part of her duties , in the field of capacity building around the adoption of public IPv4/IPv6 resources on the AFRINIC continent. Madhvi is also a speaker at technical […]
Agnes Limo is the Senior Manager-Home Technology and Customer Support. She is responsible for executing the strategy and objectives for connecting Homes with broadband internet using Fiber Optic and Wireless Technologies, preparing the platforms towards Triple Play, Smart Homes and, Home Automation and ensuring customer support to give unmatched experience. She leads a cross […]
Evelyn works with the Internet Society as the Policy Outreach Fellow, In her role she works closely on issues related to human rights and access. She’s also involved in the Community Networks and Internet Governance campaign work at the Internet Society. Evelyn founded Vouch Digital a technology start-up using data and digital payments to […]
La révolution numérique qui s’est annoncée depuis le siècle passé a connu de véritables et ultrarapides avancés depuis le début du 21ème siècle. L’internet des objets, la digitalisation des domaines de développement, et la mutation répétée des différentes innovations dans les secteurs du développement des communautés des pays en développement, ont gagné les différents laboratoires, […]
Women and new technological revolution 21th century The digital revolution that has emerged since the last century has experienced real and ultrafast advanced since the beginning of the 21th century. The Internet of Things, the digitization of development areas, and the repeated mutation of different innovations in the development sectors for communities in developing countries, have won […]
Michuki Mwangi, Regional Development Manager for Africa at the Internet Society Michuki Mwangi is the Regional Development Manager for Africa at the Internet Society where he works in the African Regional Bureau to promote Internet growth and sustainability since 2008. At the Internet Society Michuki has been instrumental in the design and execution of […]
Lillian Nyawira est une ingénieure en télécommunications bien établie dont la carrière s’étend sur 15 ans. Spécialisée dans l’analyse et l’assurance de réseaux, le benchmarking des services de réseaux mobiles, l’exploitation des réseaux et la gestion de l’expérience client de bout en bout. Lilian est actuellement chargé de positionner Safaricom Kenya Limited dans […]
LILIAN NYAWIRA Telecommunications Engineer Speaker of AIS 2018 in Dakar Lillian Nyawira is a well-grounded telecommunications engineer with career spanning 15 years. Specializing in Network analytics and assurance, Mobile network service benchmarking, Network operations and end to end Customer experience management. Lilian is currently entrusted with positioning Safaricom Kenya limited in an initiative to […]
Speaker of AIS 2018 in Dakar 1≠ : Ndeye Maimouna Diop ICT Engineer Mrs Ndeye Maimouna Diop has worked as ICT director at Senegal’s Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and ICT, from April 2004 to September 2012. She designed a strategic ICT4D master plan for Senegalese government. She was the Senegalese government representative at several global initiatives […]
Women and New Technologies in Francophone Africa Few women are involved in ICT. This is partly due to the fact that women have long been relegated to second place in Africa since they are inferior in the hierarchy of communities and societies on the continent. This position, which far from signifying that they have no […]
AfChix had its very first AfChix TechWomen Summit on 27th May 2017, under the theme: “A Spectrum of Opportunities”. The one day event took place alongside the Africa Internet Summit (AIS) 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Africa Internet Summit (AIS), which every year, attracts internationally renowned Instructors, Experts and Speakers to share the latest innovations […]
MY EXPERIENCE AT THE AFCHIX TECH WOMEN SUMMIT As women in Technology, one of the biggest challenges is finding women who have the passion for technology the same as we do. We are faced with a lot of skepticism not only from men but from fellow women as well. Whenever you have discovered about a […]
A total of 340 students from nine (9) girls’ schools from different parts of the country did attend the seminar. The schools included: Testinomy school, Muthetheni Girls High School, Materi Girls Secondary School, St. Angela’s Girls Secondary Schiool, Makueni Girls High School, Masinga Girls Secondary School, Kianda School, Apostolic Carmel Girls Secondary, Moi Tea Girls […]
Date: December 2015 Guest Speaker: Richard Moon, a Partner Technical Account Manager at DELL Topic: Lessons learned as a Software Professional Objective: To inspire students already into the ICT industry Location: Resilient Africa Network (RAN) offices, Kololo, Kampala Target Participants: University Students pursuing Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems and […]
Turning her passion for Mentorship to elevate Young African Women – Meet Ms. Nodumo Dhlamini Ms. Nodumo Dhlamini (center) with some of the Girls from AfChixUganda Afchix Uganda was originally born as LinuxChix Uganda. It came about after a group of women led by Dorcas Muthoni and Ana Badimo met at Kalangala Island in Uganda in January […]
Date: April 2015 Objective: To mentor students to develop mobile applications that solve community challenges. Location: Resilient Africa Network (RAN) offices, Kololo, Kampala Target Participants: Secondary School and University students Brief Overview: Five (5) members of AfChix Women in Computing –Uganda Chapter participated in mentoring secondary school and University students who were competing in […]
As part of the global movement to celebrate the international girls in ICT day, on Saturday 18th April 2015, AfChix Uganda held a career guidance workshop with girls from Iganga Girls School in the Eastern part of Uganda. The event was held at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology. The girls who attended the […]
THE IDEA & WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT We would like to celebrate the International Girls in ICT day on Saturday 25th April 2015 and invite 1000+ girls from rural schools in Uganda to participate in a one day seminar. The International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative backed by all International Telecommunications Union (ITU) […]
African Network Operators Group (AfNOG) is a forum for technical coordination and cooperation among African Internet service providers and network engineers from the region’s universities, research institutions, and industry. AfNOG aims to build a community of engineers to help each other operating Internet Infrastructure in Africa, and on the Global Internet as well as promote […]
It is finally here and we invite you to the launch of the computer lab and Computer studies curriculum at the Uganda Society for the Deaf Vocational Training School on 31st October 2014, starting at 10am. The objectives of this launch include: Creating awareness for the school so as to be acknowledged around the country and […]
DEADLINE EXTENSION: 3rd October, 2014 for applications AfChix Uganda collaborates with AFNOG and NSRC in hosting the UNIX System Administration & Networking Workshop for East African Women Engineers, Kampala, Uganda (10th – 15th November, 2014) Background The African Network Operators Group (AfNOG ) invites women engineers from East Africa to participate in an intensive Unix System Administration and Networking […]
Date: April 2014 Theme: Expand Horizons, Changing Attitudes Objective: To inspire secondary school girls and disseminate information about the ICT Careers Location: Uganda Institute of Information Communications Technology, Kampala Target Participants: Secondary School Girls. Activities: Presentation about careers available in the ICT industry Testimonies from individual Tech ladies in AFCHIX to inspire the girls One-on-one […]
Theme: Expand Horizons, Changing Attitudes Objective: To inspire secondary school girls and disseminate information about the ICT Careers Location: Uganda Institute of Information Communications Technology, Kampala Target Participants: Secondary School Girls. Activities: Presentation about careers available in the ICT industry Testimonies from individual Tech ladies in AFCHIX to inspire the girls One-on-one discussions
AfChix Uganda is a chapter of AfChix Africa, a network of women in technology started in 2004 with a mission to network with women (those already in the ICT/Computer Science industry and potential girls in computer science/ICT for purposes of supporting them to grow in their careers and to encourage young girls to take up ICT/Computer Science programs […]
Do Women Make Better Leaders? Three blogs or thought leaders that I respect have addressed this intriguing question CBS News feature John Zenger and Joseph Folkman. “In decades of analyzing exceptional leadership, John Zenger and Joseph Folkman have identified 16 traits required for success. These include integrity, initiative, self-development, problem solving and a drive for […]
