Technovation


Technology events, challenges, hack-thons and startups are the thing today. A lot of groups, organizations and companies are organizing these. They boost young innovators, inventors and those with the passion for technology developments, designs and marketing. For example Outbox, Women passion program, Garage48 among others.
Those who have got a chance to attend some of these events will agree with me. The number of ladies that attend these events is always very small compared to the number of gents. This always leaves me wondering, is the communication only made to the gents or the ladies are excluded to be among the participants or the ladies are out of ideas?

But then I happened to get some answers. The ladies are in most cases scared of being inferior to the gents per the ideas and the innovations. They are always quiet and reserved thinking their ideas are not great or thinking they can't do anything better than the guys. So the question remains ‘what can be done to increase on the number of ladies in the technology events innovations, startups and challenges?’
The technology world is never out of ideas. Seeing the problem, most of the companies resorted to planning programs to involve only the ladies to take part in development and designing of different programs, systems, web apps, mobile apps gents exclusive. Many programs for the ladies have been started for example the GDG women, Women passion program, DJango girls, Geek girl and so many others.

Then Technovation got to my attention. It’s an internationally run program that encourages girls (only) from age 10- 18 and to develop mobile applications in groups. It runs for 12 weeks from April to February with girls doing projects that solve problems in their societies.
In groups of 4-5 girls/ladies identify problems in their communities and develop mobile application for android, windows or IOS operating systems to solve those problems in their communities that may cause an impact to both their lives and the lives of other people in the society. It may be towards health, economy, education, politics, agriculture or anything that can make a positive change in one’s life through technology.


It’s interesting how easy it is in filling the forms and how you can still take part in the challenge even when you're from a far place. Makerere University made a collaboration with Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Ladies in first year and second year apply in teams to take part in the challenge and this runs on a national level. The journey of fun, gaining experience, skills and changing communities through technology starts in February. Guess your all excited like i am. 
http://www.technovation.org

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