GirlCode; a leading organization empowering women in technology, is thrilled to announce its annual GirlCode Hackathon, scheduled to take place on 5-6 August, 2023. This year, the hackathon will focus on the theme ‘AI for Women’, highlighting the crucial role of artificial intelligence in promoting gender equality and inclusivity in the tech industry.
Building on the success of previous events, GirlCode has partnered with prominent sponsors to ensure an exceptional experience for participants. The Takealot Group, South Africa’s largest eCommerce group, has joined forces as the prize sponsor, offering exciting rewards and incentives to motivate the participants. According to Norma Teyise, Group Executive – People & Transformation at Takealot, “Digital skills possess a remarkable power to affect transformation and act as a powerful equalizer, unlocking opportunities and dismantling barriers in today’s digital-centric world. In the past, education was unjustly wielded as a tool for discrimination in our country and as the Takealot Group, we are determined to change this narrative. We are therefore proud to once again partner with GirlCode as a sponsor of their annual all-women Hackathon in our shared mission to empower girls and women with the digital skills needed to thrive in the tech industry. By investing in digital skills development, we aim to pave the way for an inclusive digital future.”
Additionally, the hackathon is supported by Vumatel, who is proud to once again partner with GirlCode for the upcoming #GirlCodeHackathon as a gold sponsor. “This is another opportunity in 2023 in bridging the digital literacy gap for young South Africans by creating a space for women in STEM fields,” says Lianne Williams, Marketing Director at Vuma.
Mint Group, an early supporter of GirlCode, proudly became one of their first partners 7 years ago. Over the past 5 years, Mint Group has consistently been a gold sponsor of GirlCode’s annual Hackathon event, providing young women with an incredible opportunity to tackle complex challenges using their technical skills within a 36-hour timeframe. J Lauren Clark, Mint Group Head of People, stated, “Mint Group is dedicated to fostering awareness and empowerment for girls in the tech industry. Through this event, we strive to inspire and nurture the next generation of female leaders in STEM.”
Chenosis also expressed their enthusiasm for being part of an exciting initiative aligned with their strategy of solving problems through technology, upskilling, and providing meaningful work opportunities to young women developers on the African continent. “We are thrilled to be a part of this Hackathon to see the vision of ensuring every person on the continent is equipped with digital capability to solve everyday problems. We can’t wait to see how Citizen Developer Initiatives such as this Hackathon really accelerate the role that women play in the Technology Ecosystem and the Future!” said Jabulisa Mtungwa, People Lead at Chenosis.
Ninety One, a renowned organization committed to fostering diversity and innovation in the technology sector, is another proud sponsor of the GirlCode Hackathon. They believe in empowering women to embrace technology and leverage AI to address pressing issues faced by women, and they are excited to support this initiative to make a positive impact on the lives of aspiring female software developers. “Ninety One is proud to partner with GirlCode to encourage, nurture and promote women in technology. We are a tech-enabled global business and have made diversity, equity and inclusion a central consideration in all our decision making. We have a female Chief Technology Officer, and we are excited about inspiring the next generation of female leaders in technology. “ – Narassa Govender, Ninety One CSI Director
Royal HaskoningDHV, a prominent organization in the engineering industry, is also lending its support to the GirlCode Hackathon. Pat van Wyk, Head of People, Culture and Communications at Royal HaskoningDHV South Africa, emphasized the importance of coding and digital skills in shaping the engineering solutions of the future. She stated, “Coding and digital skills are crucial to the engineering industry and in shaping the solutions we design for the future. Sadly, women are underrepresented in the engineering field, locally and globally. By supporting this event, we aim to encourage and empower more talented women to join us, ensuring a diverse pool of minds to create innovative solutions that will shape a better world together.”
Wunderman Thompson, a leading agency in the digital and marketing landscape, is proud to be partnering with GirlCode for this year’s Hackathon, in support of all the important work they do to bridge the digital divide for young women in South Africa. Khumo du Toit, Learning and Development Manager at Wunderman Thompson South Africa, emphasized the significance of addressing the skills gap in the country through ICT and technology education, enabling young people to become more employable in the future. “We look forward to engaging with these talented young minds and seeing their capabilities throughout the hackathon.”
This year’s hackathon expands its reach to three major cities across South Africa: Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. With the inclusion of multiple locations, GirlCode aims to provide greater accessibility and convenience for aspiring female software developers to participate and showcase their talents.
In collaboration with esteemed partners, the GirlCode Hackathon offers an unparalleled opportunity for young women to immerse themselves in coding, guided by industry professionals.
The hackathon will take place at three venue sponsors: Riversands Ihub, Workshop 17, and Ikhokha, ensuring excellent facilities and conducive environments for collaboration and innovation. Participants will form teams of 2 to a maximum of 4 individuals, working together to develop solutions that leverage AI to address pressing issues faced by women.
On Sunday, all participating teams will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a distinguished panel of judges comprising industry experts and thought leaders. The winning concept will be carefully selected based on its innovative approach, technical implementation, and potential impact on the lives of women.
“We believe in the power of diversity and innovation. This year’s all-women hackathon under the theme ‘AI for Women’ aims to empower talented minds to create a future where technology knows no gender boundaries. Together with our sponsors, we are shaping an inclusive AI landscape that drives positive change. GirlCodeHack is all about code, inspiring each other, and forging a path of endless possibilities. ” – Zandile Mkwanazi, GirlCode CEO.