In a significant milestone for women’s empowerment in East Africa, Educating The Children (ETC), a UK-registered charity, is set to mark the five-year anniversary of its flagship initiative, Code Queen. The program, which has successfully trained over 500 young unemployed women in Uganda in advanced technology skills, will celebrate its achievements with an event scheduled for the 28th of March 2025. This celebration will be held at Motiv Bugolobi, in Kampala, Uganda, and will convene alumni, mentors, industry leaders, and aspiring technologists.
Since its inception, the Code Queen initiative has played an instrumental role in shaping the career trajectories of women who previously lacked access to such transformative opportunities. The program boasts an impressive 83% success rate in linking its graduates to subsequent opportunities in the tech space, including jobs, internships, and further studies. This achievement directly aligns with ETC’s mission of fostering education and empowerment for marginalized demographics within East Africa, and exemplifies its commitment to fostering sustainable pathways to employment.
The event promises a robust lineup of activities, beginning with keynote speeches delivered by prominent figures in the tech industry. These leaders, alongside successful Code Queen alumni, will share insights into their journeys and the vital role that tech could play in driving inclusive growth. Panel discussions will delve into the challenges and future prospects for women in tech, focusing on strategies to cultivate more inclusive and equitable industry environments.
Sonal Kadchha, Founder of ETC, articulated the pressing need for such initiatives: ‘While talent is universally distributed, opportunities are not. The gap is notably pronounced in Africa, particularly when examining the disparity between genders. ETC endeavours to uplift the most marginalised groups, demonstrating how focused and resourceful interventions can yield substantial positive change.’
With anticipation building for this landmark celebration, stakeholders are encouraged to join in honoring these achievements and envision a future where women in technology are not just participants but leaders. For RSVPs and further inquiries, interested parties are invited to visit: [https://www.etc.education/kampala].
In celebrating this half-decade of impact, Educating The Children and its Code Queen initiative reaffirm their dedication to breaking down barriers and paving the way towards a more inclusive digital future.
