Connecting and inspiring African women in tech

Encouraging and mentoring girls in Africa to join the tech space

AFCHIX is a network of African women in technology who believe that gender diversity is crucial to building a thriving and innovative ICT sector on the continent. We mentor, inspire, and encourage girls to join the tech space through a range of initiatives.

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Internet Society @internetsociety ·

Our Sustainable Peering and Interconnection (#IXP) Funding Program is accepting applications! Grants of up to USD $50,000 are available for those building or improving #IXPs as well as champions of #peering across their regions.

Learn more and apply ⬇️
https://www.internetsociety.org/funding-areas/sustainable-peering-ixp/

AFCHIX @afchix ·

The barriers are – Affordability: Women lack the means to pay for devices/network high fees. Availability: network coverage. Ability: technical and digital literacy skills. Appropriateness: Safety, security, and harassment concerns further discourage women from using technology.

Our stories

#IWD2023: Equal opportunities are not enough

2023: Celebrating a new year with gratitude for successes

From the field: Education and social norms in Morocco

OUR IMPACT

Since 2004, AFCHIX has been inspiring African girls to pursue careers in tech, helping women in the industry to upskill, and using community networks to enable women to connect themselves and their communities to the internet.

Empowering African women to connect themselves to the internet

17,000+

Girls reached through mentoring and events

670+

People accessing Wi-fi internet

4

Community networks established

870+

Women empowered through digital literacy and technical training

10

Schools connected to the internet

Community networks

Community networks provide alternative, locally driven and sustainable solutions that are critical in addressing connectivity gaps in Africa.

Testimonials

We have to normalise connectivity. Connectivity is for all – and this includes women. Once we begin to normalise connectivity, it begins to look like any other utility like water or electricity. Everyone wants women to be able to access water, why doesn’t everyone want to make sure women can access the internet?

Dorcas MuthoniFounder of AFCHIX

"AFCHIX empowers women to take a leading role in how their community accesses the internet. This helps to overcome perceptions that women can’t or shouldn’t use technology and also builds their self-confidence about using it. The training these women receive shows them how to use technology to their benefit by accessing economic opportunities, including as entrepreneurs."

Dr. Revi SterlingDirector of the WomenConnect Challenge

“Getting access to the internet has empowered me and enhanced my technical skills. The internet will help me grow further and be a role model for the younger women in my community.”

StacyTrainee, Lanet Umoja Community Network (Kenya)

“The workshops enabled me to enter the world of computers in order to understand how they work and to know the different software and applications. I want to develop my cooking, confectionery, and marketing capabilities and start a pastry catering business.”

AzizaTrainee, Ait Izdeg Community Network (Morocco)