AfChix - Women in Technology Group

Background

The AfChix Mailing list is composed of a group of African Chix (Women) in Computer Science / Information Technology that was previously called Linux Chix Africa (since 2004) and participants of the AfNOGChix series of workshops (since 2007). Linux Chix Africa was the brainchild of Dorcas Muthoni and Anna Badimo - two great African women in Computer Science / Information Technology that had a dream of how to support women in Computer Science / Information Technology to prosper. This group has since evolved to what is now called AfChix and its activities have been championed by Dorcas Muthoni with a focus on the following:

1. Career Fairs in Kenya targeting high school girls with the objective of enticing them to take up careers in Computer Science and related areas
2. Support for women to attend global and regional Computer Science / Information Technology related conferences for exposure
3. Targeted partnerships for training women in technical fields such as Linux Systems Administration, Network Infrastructure & Services, Internet Education among others
4. Management of the Afchix mailing list to share information and opportunities with women in Computer Science / Information Technology.

Purpose of the AfChix Group

The goal of AfChix is to create a vibrant network of African Women in Computer Science and related areas for the purpose of supporting each other. Specific objectives include the following:

1. Facilitate networking and sharing of opportunities with women in Computer Science / Information Technology - recognizing that there is power in purposeful collaboration and networking.
2. Establish a platform for mentorship targeting upcoming young women in Computer Science / Information Technology.
3. Identify opportunities and broker partnerships for professional training / development and exposure of women in Computer Science / Information Technology

Our website is: http://www.afchix.org/ and our blog is: http://afchix.blogspot.com/

Building leadership skills for social and economic development in Africa.

ALICT is a blended learning course for full-time working professionals. ALICT combines online, offline and applied learning.
We are accepting applications for the second round of ALICT:
• Closing date for applications August 1st 2012
• Course commences October 2012
• Course concludes May 2013
• No fees are required
• Applicants may be requested to make proof of their credentials and qualifications available to GESCI
Download the ALICT brochure for a description of each module at: http://www.gesci.org/assets/files/ALICT%20May%202012.pdf
 

In a continent where women form a majority of the population and half of the workforce, it is an anomaly that the percentage of women working in technology is less than 15%. Technology is one of the key factors driving Africa’s projected economic rise. As such, there is enormous potential for maximizing the growth of technology through increasing the number and quality of women in technology. That is where Akirachix comes in.
AkiraChix aims to inspire and develop a successful force of women in Technology that will change Africa’s future. They plan to do this through their key programs areas of networking, mentorship and training.
The training program aims at giving these girls IT skills that would enable them sustain themselves. The inaugural set of students, who joined this program in August of 2010, recently graduated, on the 6th of August 2011, after a year of taking courses that ranged from basic computer packages, to programming and design concepts, as well as entrepreneurship and business development.
Started the AkiraChix Training program, teaching programming and web development skills to 29 young women. Recognized with the Unsung Heroes award by the US Embassy in Nairobi on International Women’s Day 2011.
Mobile Garage is a program funded by Infodev and to be implemented by Akirachix. The aim of the program is to create sustainable businesses for the knowledge economy through mobile applications for development, business incubation and technology entrepreneurship.
“We are intelligent and we bring all our energy together to help and inspire the greater community of ladies out there”.

ANU College of Engineering & Computer Science encourage our female students to network with each other, as well as with their male colleagues, on a regular basis so that they build new networks and make new friends to support themselves and each other while studying (and beyond).

From time-to-time the College organises get-togethers for female students, and we particularly welcome their voluntary assistance for outreach programs to help other young women decide on a career in engineering and computer science.

More information can be found here:

https://cecs.anu.edu.au/current_students/wit

Network related to the Apache Software Foundation (open source)to help women become active in projects at Apache.

We are a global network of women who support women networking for social change and women’s empowerment, through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). We promote gender equality in the design, development, implementation, access to and use of ICTs and in the policy decisions and frameworks that regulate them.

Our programme members are specialists in areas such as training, information facilitation, technical work and policy issues. Many work on a voluntary basis and are mostly experienced network users rather than formally-trained ICT experts. We come from different backgrounds: among us are activists on issues such as housing, environmental protection and women’s health; librarians, journalists, web developers, trainers, technicians, and user support providers. Some of us work for Internet Service/Content Service Providers (ISP/CSP) that are members of the Association For Progressive Communications. Some are independent activists, and some are members of women’s organizations.

The objective of the APAN fellowship program is to promote "Global collaboration" through applicants participation in APAN meetings, held twice yearly. It is hoped the meeting will provide the environment to "network" with other researchers.  Graduate and  undergraduate students as well as young researchers are encouraged to apply.

The aim of the APCWT is to provide a platform to help women advance in IT. Promotes the use of ICT-enabled tools and encourages women to become leaders in their chosen profession, field and communities.

Asia Pacific Women’s Information Network Center (APWINC) was established in November 1996 at Sookmyung Women’s University to promote gender equality and empower women’s potential and skills in the field of Information and Communication Technology(ICT) in Asia and the Pacific region.

APWINC has made various efforts to play a pioneer role for women’s informatization by conducting research, field surveys, education and training, as well as conferences, workshops, and seminars in gender & ICT.

It collaborates with international organizations, governmental organizations and NGOs to develop ICT-related projects for women.

For current activities, more information can be found in the Facebook and Twitter.
Facebook: Apwinc Sookmyung (http://www.facebook.com/apwinc)
Twitter: @apwinc
 

The APNG Camp is where future internet leaders in the AP region meet. Participants are young internet researchers, programmers and volunteers from Asia Pacific.   Fellowships are available for international and local students.
Asia Pacific Networking Group (APNG) (http://www.apng.org) is a non-profit Internet organization dedicated to the advancement of networking infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region and to the research and development of all associated enabling technologies.