Chepkemoi M.

Chepkemoi M.

2019 Anita Borg Systers Pass It On Award Winner
Project Title: North-Rift Women in STEM
Country: Kenya

Kenya is shifting from a low wage, labor-based economy to a middle-income, knowledge-based economy. There is a pressing need to build local computing capacity. An essential goal of the 2013 National Information and Communication Technology Master Plan is to make Kenya a knowledge-based economy by 2030.  This project will deflate the myth that technology is only for men by teaching women how information and communications technology programs (ICT) work, providing fundamental skills necessary to engage with the technology, and teaching theoretical understanding to empower trainees to solve ICT problems.

This project will consist of three-day boot camps of 120 women, between the ages of 18 and 35, taking place in each of the four counties in the rural and semi-rural North Rift region. An intensive six-month program will provide current skills, as well as internship placements and job placement services, to 15 bright minds.

Chepkemoi is a computer scientist who is passionate about using technology to transform Africa. She leads EldoHub, a technology and innovation hub, which empowers and supports young people to identify problems in their communities and apply different technologies to solve those problems. She has over 6 years of professional experience in software development, networking, ICT4D and education. Chepkemoi holds a master’s degree in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation. Chepkemoi also co-founded Techstarlets Kenya to empower and support women.