Despite concerted efforts to narrow the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, major inequalities persist. According to UNESCO, women account for a mere 28% of those pursuing STEM careers in Sub-Saharan Africa, below the global average of 30%. Only 23% of tech jobs are held by women in South Africa – out of 236 000 ICT (tech) roles, women occupy 56 000 of them. As a sector, it needs to hire women to improve diversity within the workplace. But we cannot find women with the required skills, and we cannot attract young women to the sector because when they look at conferences, in the media and inside technology companies, they mainly see men in tech! The narrative must change!

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The objective of the project “Women in ICT & Entrepreneurship” is to empower women with specific skills to conduct their businesses online. Within a local community context, many women are entrepreneurs in their own right. Therefore the I-CAN Centre, managed by non-profit Genesis Community IT Initiative, located in Elsies River, has piloted a unique project “Women in ICT & Entrepreneurship” to empower women to digitize their businesses. The project also address gender opportunities in ICT and eradicating poverty in our communities.