South Africa's Vodacom encourages 10,000 female students to master coding skills through the #CodeLikeAGirl initiative.
In a bold move to promote gender diversity and inclusivity in the tech industry, Vodacom South Africa launched the #CodeLikeAGirl (CLAG) programme in 2017. The initiative, now a national phenomenon, has trained over 10,000 girls in coding and digital literacy across all nine provinces in the country.
Njabulo Mashigo, Human Resources Director at Vodacom South Africa, expresses pride in the impact of the programme. He believes that the CLAG programme helps shift the gender balance in tech from the ground up, sending a powerful message that women belong in technology and their ideas can help shape a better future.
One of the programme's success stories is Shreya Rupan, who ranked among the top participants in the CLAG programme despite having no prior experience in coding. Shreya's journey is inspiring, as she was awarded a bursary by Vodacom in 2021 to pursue her Undergraduate and Honours degrees in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Wits University. Today, she is a Data Analyst in the Vodacom Discover Graduate Programme.
The CLAG programme offers access to both on-site and virtual coding bootcamps to girls aged 14 to 18 from underprivileged communities. Participants are introduced to programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and GitHub. The programme also fosters life skills and mentorship opportunities with industry professionals.
In 2024, Vodacom trained 3,446 girls, the highest annual intake to date, through the CLAG programme. This initiative is not just about numbers; it's about providing girls with an opportunity to grow through digital education and overcome barriers that prevent them from achieving their potential in STEM.
The UNESCO 2024 report states that women hold only 22% of STEM jobs in G20 countries and account for one in 10 leadership positions related to STEM. Programmes like CLAG are crucial in bridging this gap, building a robust pipeline of female talent for the tech industry, and popularizing coding among girls.
The CLAG programme has transformed into an accredited qualification, offering certification for long-term career opportunities. It has helped many of its alumni progress into Vodacom's bursary and Early Careers programmes, securing permanent roles and further education in STEM. Lerato Maphunye, another alumna, is a testament to this, as she is currently pursuing her studies in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Wits University under the Vodacom Bursary and Early Career Program.
As the CLAG programme continues to grow, its target for the number of girls trained in 2025 is 4,000. With the ongoing support from Vodacom and other partners, the programme is poised to make a significant impact in the tech industry, ensuring that women's voices and ideas are heard and valued.
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