NAIROBI, Kenya- Aspiring female coders, developers, and tech enthusiasts across Africa gathered in Johannesburg for the 10th annual GirlCode Hackathon, a 30-hour marathon of innovation that ran from August 31 to September 1.
Hosted at the MTN Group HQ, this year’s event marked a milestone for GirlCode, expanding its reach to over 10 cities across the continent.
The GirlCode Hackathon is a stage for young women in universities and colleges to sharpen their real-world tech skills, preparing them for careers in an industry that desperately needs diversity.
The event, now in its 10th year, has grown exponentially, creating a space for women to collaborate, learn, and showcase their coding talents.
GirlCode founder and CEO Zandile Mkwanazi expressed her pride in the non-profit’s journey: “What started in 2014 as a small initiative has blossomed into something that connects young women across Africa, giving them a chance to grow and thrive in the world of tech,” she said.
Mkwanazi highlighted that increasing female participation in Africa’s digital economy could help reduce inequality and foster workplace diversity.
According to the World Bank, only 30pc of women in sub-Saharan Africa have access to training in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, a statistic that initiatives like GirlCode are actively working to change.
This year’s hackathon theme, Harnessing the Power of Technology to Address Pressing Global Challenges, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Teams were tasked with developing solutions to some of the world’s most significant problems.
One standout submission came from PrincessCare, which tackled menstrual health access by proposing a system where consumers could buy sanitary products for themselves while donating hampers to women and girls in need.
One of the most inspiring projects aligned with SDG 4, focused on quality education. The solution, presented by Hackers Squad, aimed to ensure equitable access to education and provide hands-on training to improve employment prospects for young people, a core goal of the SDG framework.
The hackathon also drew attention to the ongoing gender disparity in the tech sector. Longtime GirlCode supporter and Gold Sponsor Vuma, a South African fiber provider, reiterated its commitment to the cause.
Bongekile Tlhakanye, Vuma’s Head of Service Management, emphasized the importance of initiatives like GirlCode in addressing the gender gap in tech. “Women are natural problem-solvers,” Tlhakanye said.
By offering young African women the chance to develop coding skills and tackle real-world challenges, the initiative is not only preparing a new generation for the digital workforce but also helping build a more inclusive, diverse, and dynamic tech landscape.
With more women stepping into tech roles, Africa’s digital economy is set to grow, bringing with it the promise of reduced inequality and more robust, future-proof industries.
