Female student hopes to establish a technology center for women

From students to cybersecurity experts

At 23, Saron Mesele is in her final year of computer science and engineering at Adama University of Science and Technology in Ethiopia. She began her career in cybersecurity and has contributed to ensuring safety in cyberspace.

Mesele is one of Ethiopian's pioneering young women in the field of technology, actively lobbying for inclusive spaces and promoting gender-sensitive policies. To encourage more girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), she organizes digital literacy workshops in schools and communities.

"Seeing a girl's eyes light up when she writes her first line of code or understands how cybersecurity works, especially in areas where access to technology is still limited, is what motivates me," Mesele said.

Mesele recalls the beginning of her journey in 2020 when she participated in a two-week intensive coding training camp, a program under the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI).

The program, run by UN Women in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the International Telecommunication Union, trains women and girls to become programmers and innovators in the information and communication technology sector.

"When I joined the summer camp, I was in 12th grade, standing at a crossroads of my future career. The summer camp was a turning point, transforming my passion for technology into a clear goal," Mesele shared.

We hope to establish a technology center for women.

Limited access to technology and low levels of digital literacy are hindering Ethiopian women from fully participating in and benefiting from the digital economy . According to Ethiopia's 2024 "National Report on the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration," many girls, particularly in rural areas, do not have the same access to technology as boys.

Nỗ lực thu hẹp khoảng cách giới về kỹ thuật số ở Ethiopia- Ảnh 1.

To acquire the skills necessary for her career, Mesele couldn't rely solely on the training she received. It was a combination of access to suitable opportunities, self-discipline, and a strong support system that proved key to her success.

She explained: "My determination to study information technology helped me persevere even when things got tough. I learned more about IT from free resources and practiced regularly. AGCCI and the French National Institute of Applied Sciences provided me with the right platforms to improve my skills. The question is what we do with the support we receive and how we turn challenges into opportunities for growth."

According to Ethiopia's National Workforce and Migration Survey, women make up one-third of the more than 90,000 people working in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

Mesele first learned about the Beijing Platform for Action during her studies. She stated, "The AGCCI program is incredibly relevant to bridging the gender gap in information technology, especially as it requires ensuring women's access to education and technology."

Mesele hopes to one day establish a technology center – an incubator for innovative young women, contributing to the country's digital transformation. To gradually realize this goal, she continues to provide digital skills training for young women in her community.

From students to cybersecurity experts

We hope to establish a technology center for women.

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