ICT is taking a central role in all aspects but there are still fewer girls enrolling for ICT related technical skills and jobs, hence the digital and technical divide. Girls from disadvantaged backgrounds and underserved communities are especially marginalized. Working in the informal settlements has exposed us to issues affecting young women such as increased rate of school dropout, early pregnancies leading to early marriages, higher risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and gender based violence. All these issues and more negatively affect the girls interfering with their education and hence they miss out on opportunities due to lack of adequate skills needed. In 2015, NairoBits opened 3 Girl centers targeting marginalized girls aged 17 to 19 from Mathare, Kibera, Korogocho, Huruma, Kawangware, Dandora and Kariobangi settlements. The goal of this program is to enroll vulnerable girls from the informal settlements in Nairobi, have sustainable income through Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills. We do this by advocating for equal education skills and access to opportunities for girls from Nairobi’s informal settlements and to lobby at the employment level for equal job opportunities with those from other learning institutions. Through the SisTech project, we have been able to reach more than 300 girls, 60% of these girls are employed ans supporting their families.

https://nairobits.com/program/sistech/

• Africa

• Youth

As the fourth year of implementing SisTech program in Kenya, the model will be replicated in other Bits schools once we finalize the 5 years phase of the project.

By changing the perception towards girl's doing STEM and allowing them to join such programs.