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Intel, Akirachix aim to empower girls in Kenya

Kenya , 17 Oct 2013

Intel, Akirachix aim to empower girls in Kenya

International chipmaker Intel has partnered with a woman empowerment initiative, Akirachix to enhance girls’ skills in technology in Kenya.

The project dubbed “She Will Connect,” is part of Intel's global initiative, which was launched last week to expand digital literacy among women in developing nations.

Kenya has already taken the step further by bringing awareness in Nakuru, Nairobi, Eldoret, Mombasa and Kisumu where girls interested in coding will be taken on board.

Intel plans to educate 5 million women globally in a move aimed at reducing the gender gap by more than 50% globally.

The Kenyan government has also laid out a plan to promote digital literacy by supplying laptops to lower primary kids in January 2014.

To ensure “She Will Connect” succeeds the initiative organisers have said there will be a two day training session each year in the towns of Nakuru, Nairobi, Eldoret, Mombasa and Kisumu where girls interested in coding will be taken on board.

The two-day training session will have a vacancy of 25 girls per class.

Agatha Gikund, a senior official at Intel East Africa, said that diversity was crucial to succeeding in new technologies.

He added that education had real power to fuel transformation and was the main reason Intel was collaborating with other industry players to ensure that as many girls as possible made a mark in the technology world.

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