Making Space for Women in Tech

AWiTaD (Afro-Women in Technology and Design.)

Podcast Series: African women in Tech and Design (AWiTaD)

Production: Development Through Media (DTM) under the Radio Baraza Project

Season 1 (2019)

Broadcast Episode 6

Duration: 48’38”

Host: Ziki of AfroFanatic

Guest: Judy Owigar

SYNOPSIS

“I think I made a mistake”. This is what ran through Judith Owigar’s mind when she entered her first class for a scheduled course in Computer Science at the Nairobi University. Coming from a background where girls loved and excelled in science and math, she was shocked to find that in a class of 45, only 5 were girls.

During the course of her career, Judith found that as a woman in tech, she constantly had to go over and beyond to prove herself. Things did not seem to have changed much, for while attend a launch of start-ups after graduation, it did not escape her noticed that she could “count” the women in the room. This ignited a fire in her to help make spaces for women in tech. Not being one to shy away from challenges, she and several friends decided to form training programmes to enhance the skills to young women and encourage them to join the tech industry. Thus, AkiraChix was born! AkiraChix is an organisation that provides hands-on technical training and mentorship to young women and girls.

Judith, a postgraduate of Applied Computing at the University of Nairobi is now the founder and CEO of JuaKali Workforce, an online micro-jobs platforms that employs people working in the informal sector. Judy is also a consultant at UN-Habitat.

In this episode, Judy narrates her foray in the tech world.

MUSIC CREDITS

Artist: Ben Sounds

Song: Hey

Brazil Samba

Badass

https://www.bensound.com

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