The Vodacom #CodeLikeAGirl initiative has gained immense popularity, inspiring young women to venture into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. More than 6 300 girls have benefitted from the programme to date, which teaches coding among other technology and life skills. By the end of Vodacom’s current financial year, the programme will have reached more than 10 000 girls from underprivileged communities.

The #CodeLikeAGirl initiative contributes to building a more digital, inclusive and sustainable future in Africa while tackling low representation of women in STEM education through a structured educational programme that targets underprivileged girls. The purpose is to introduce underprivileged girls to coding basics and career paths addressing current and future skills gaps by building a talent pipeline.

In Vodacom’s past financial year, the programme trained 2 451 girls in South Africa – the largest intake since #CodeLikeaGirl’s inception seven years ago. It aims to reach another 3 000 girls this financial year through on-site and virtual bootcamps.

“We are extremely proud of the impact of #CodeLikeAGirl, which is popularising coding among girls and enabling diversity and inclusivity in STEM, which has been a traditionally male-dominated environment. Through our #CodeLikeAGirl programme, we are providing girls with an opportunity to grow through digital education and overcome barriers, such as gender stereotypes, preventing them from achieving their potential,” says Njabulo Mashigo, Human Resources Director, Vodacom South Africa.

The STEM gender gap remains a pressing issue globally. According to the World Economic Forum, women constitute only 28,2% of all STEM workers compared to 47,3% in non-STEM sectors. The gap is even wider at leadership level with just over 10% of STEM roles held by women. Reasons for this exclusion include gender bias, lack of career opportunities and shortage of visible role models.

To address this disparity and encourage more female participation in STEM, #CodeLikeAGirl is for girls aged 14-18 from all backgrounds. It teaches coding, robotics and other ICT programs including HTML, CSS, GitHub, Version control and JavaScript. Additionally, participants are exposed to life skills development and authoritative mentors to nurture confidence and provide a support network while exploring possibilities in STEM. Since launching in South Africa, #CodeLikeAGirl has successfully expanded to Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lesotho.

Initially hosted at schools, it now offers on-site and virtual bootcamps to increase participation. The virtual bootcamp, which only requires access to a computer and internet connectivity, is currently live with over 300 girls registered on Vodacom’s learner management system. The on-site bootcamp is scheduled for September 25-27 this year at selected schools in South Africa.

The programme has also been revamped into an accredited five-level academy approach with certification that enables long-term career opportunities for beneficiaries while building a talent pipeline for Vodacom. Girls who commit to all levels of the programme improve their prospects of being chosen for Vodacom’s mainstream bursary programme and transitioning into the company's early career initiatives, which can lead to permanent roles.

“Often referred to as the jobs of the future, STEM is critical to drive innovation, social well-being, economic growth and sustainable development. As a company within the STEM industry, Vodacom must do its part to dispel gender inequalities and foster a diverse talent pool through inclusive initiatives such as #CodeLikeAGirl. Empowering more women will help shape our future for the better,” says Mashigo.