YOUNG girls aged 12-25 years will be taking part in the hybrid fifth edition of the Connected African Girls coding camp at the Windhoek Palm Hotel from 16 to 22 of August.
The focus on Namibian and other young girls on the continent is aimed at ensuring gender equity and balance in technology, a field dominated by their male counterparts.
The camp is organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, in conjunction with United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and other partners.
According to Efraim Paulus from the information ministry, the seven-day tailor made workshop focuses on imparting technical skills in 3D printing, animation, gaming, web development, future stitch, robotics, fashion design, digital design, graphic design, computational thinking as well as master classes on confidence-building, leadership, gender, Agenda 2063, United Nations Sustainable development goals (SDGs), human rights, public speaking, and project pitching.
He says 541 applications were received, but only 100 participants were selected for the coding camp.
The camp will also allow more than 2 000 virtual participants from across the continent and relevant stakeholders to empower learners and create a conducive ecosystem and establish synergies.
"The girls will be empowered with critical technical skills as well as soft skills," says Paulus.
This is in line with SDG4 on education and skills development and SDG5 on gender equity.
The programme, which has been running for years, brought together over 3 000 girls aged from 32 African countries at the first coding camp in 2020.
By the end of this year, 14 coding camps are expected to have been organised to increase the number of girls participating in technology across Africa.
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