Do you know that...?
Kenya's population is 50.3% women, and 45% of these women are under 17 years old—that's 12.3 million girls! Yet, Only 24% of women over 25 have completed secondary and fewer than 250,000 girls are enrolled in universities as of 2023. In Nairobi, a hub of tech and innovation, young girls face substantial barriers to accessing quality education and skill-building opportunities.
What is Technovation?
Technovation is a game-changing 12-week program designed to empower girls from marginalized communities in Kenya. Through this initiative, led by the Nairobi hub, girls identify real challenges in their communities and develop mobile applications to tackle them.
This program equips young women with essential technological skills, fostering both innovation and community improvement. By the end of the program, participants have created impactful solutions that directly benefit their communities, all while gaining confidence and envisioning a brighter future.
What exactly Nairobi Hub does?
The Nairobi Hub is at the heart of Technovation, providing support and resources to help girls succeed. Here's how we make it happen:
- Volunteering: We have dedicated volunteers who guide the girls through the Technovation curriculum.
- Technical Mentorship: We source skilled mentors to teach the girls how to code and develop mobile applications.
- Business Plan Reviews: We assist the girls in developing and refining their business plans.
- Session Logistics: We handle all the logistics, from securing venues and organizing transport to providing snacks.
- Life Skills Mentoring: We mentor the girls on essential life skills, preparing them for a bright future.
...and you know what? We've been doing this for years!
Technovation has made a significant impact on reskilling for the future in Nairobi and continues to have immense potential. After three years of project implementation, the Hub is now looking to scale the project and increase its overall impact.
Between 2021-2024, the Hub has reached over 174 girls across four marginalized communities in Kenya. What started with a small cohort and modest expectations has grown to over 32 teams, each developing unique solutions for their communities. All of this has been achieved with no significant funding or donors.
Year | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
Number of girls | 45 | 74 | 55 | 174 |
Number of Teams | 9 | 13 | 10 | 32 |
Number of Apps | 9 | 13 | 10 | 32 |
Number of Communities | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Let me show some success cases!
Technovation is empowering young girls to create impactful solutions for their communities. Here’s a quick look at two incredible projects:
1. EndCut by Team Almasi:In Samburu, Team Almasi tackled female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage. They created EndCut, a mobile app that educates their community about the dangers of FGM and helps Samburu women sell their beaded jewelry globally. This project has empowered the girls to become agents of social change, combining technology with a passion for social justice.
2. Usafiri App by Team Njiwa:On Lamu Island, Team Njiwa addressed high maritime fatalities. They developed the Usafiri App, which alerts fishermen to high tides and provides safety tutorials. This app was a finalist in the Technovation global competition, showcasing their innovation and commitment to their community’s safety.
And a bright future is waiting for us!
Technovation will continue evolving and making an impact. Let me show you how:
1. Growing Bigger:We’re focusing on increasing the number of girls, communities, teams, mentors, technical equipment, and successful projects in the next couple of years. Our goal is to reach even more young innovators and expand our impact.
2. Growing Better: Currently a 12-week program, Technovation aims to make a lasting impact beyond this period. In the future, we'll continue training in both soft and hard skills, help girls access universities, guide them in choosing professions, and support them in exploring the digital world. Our ambitious vision includes transforming promising ideas into at least minimum viable products.
Join us on this journey towards a brighter future!
Our collaborators
1. Asha Makana
2. Juan Alvarez
3. Phylis Atieno
4. Krupa Mandavia