From student to cybersecurity expert
At 23, Saron Mesele is in her final year of studying computer science and engineering at Adama University of Science and Technology in Ethiopia. She is starting her career in cybersecurity and helping to ensure safety in cyberspace.
Mesele is one of Ethiopia’s young female tech pioneers, actively lobbying for inclusive spaces and promoting gender-sensitive policies. To encourage more girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), she conducts digital literacy workshops in schools and communities.
“Seeing a girl’s eyes light up when she writes her first line of code or understands how cybersecurity works, especially in areas where access to technology is still limited, is what motivates me,” said Mesele.
Mesele recalls how her journey began in 2020 when she attended a two-week intensive coding bootcamp, a program under the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI).
The program, run by UN Women in partnership with the African Union Commission and the International Telecommunication Union, trains women and girls to become programmers and innovators in the field of information and communications technology.
“When I joined the camp, I was in grade 12, at a crossroads in my future career. The camp was a turning point, turning my passion for technology into a clear goal,” Mesele shared.
Hope to establish a technology center for women
Limited access to technology devices and low levels of digital literacy are preventing Ethiopian women from fully participating in and benefiting from the digital economy . According to Ethiopia’s 2024 “National Report on the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration,” many girls, especially in rural areas, do not have the same access to technology as boys.
To gain the skills she needed for her career, Mesele couldn't rely solely on the training she received. It was a combination of access to the right opportunities, self-motivation, and a strong support system that proved to be the "key" to her success.
“My determination to learn IT helped me persevere even when things got tough. I learned more about IT from free resources and practiced regularly. AGCCI and the French National Institute of Applied Sciences provided me with the right platforms to improve my skills. It’s all about what we do with the support we receive and how we turn challenges into opportunities for growth,” she explains.
According to Ethiopia's National Labour Force and Migration Survey, women make up one-third of the more than 90,000 people working in the information and communications technology sector.
Mesele first learned about the Beijing Platform for Action during her studies. “The AGCCI program is a great fit for closing the gender gap in information technology, especially when it comes to ensuring women’s access to education and technology,” she said.
Mesele hopes to one day establish a tech hub – an incubator for young women to innovate and contribute to the country’s digital transformation. To help make that dream a reality, she continues to train young women in her community in digital skills.
"Don't just crave access to technology. Master it. Harness its power to change your life!"
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nu-sinh-vien-mong-thanh-lap-mot-trung-tam-cong-nghe-danh-cho-phu-nu-20250702110951748.htm
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