Nabilah Safira
TechInAfrica – Becoming one of the winners in the third round of the WomenConnect Challenge, AfChix is empowering women in rural Kenya, Senegal, Namibia, and Morocco to grasp the advantage of linking their communities to the internet. This organization of African women in technology won the challenge funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The WomenConnect Challenge
WomenConnect is an international demand for solutions to enhance the involvement of women in daily life by transforming how women access and utilize technology.
Established in 2018, AfChix has created several community networks by locating communications infrastructure in rural areas.
As a winner in the first round of the Women Connect Challenge, AfChix teaches local women to preserve the installed network infrastructure and expand sustainable business plans. That knowledge will help local women to lead the way communities in their surroundings access the internet connectivity now accessible to them. The training also completes women with digital education and other courses to enable them to utilize technology and the internet to make their lives better and build small businesses.
Currently, AfChix attempts to expand the scope of its four existing networks to connect more schools and households; while additionally offering digital knowledge coaching to more women in these networks and throughout Africa.
AfChix has taught the technical and leadership for women in initiating and handling local internet service providers. It is also providing a safe space for women and girls to link with technology. AfChix believes that it can add to shutting the enormous gender digital gap still existing in Africa. The gender digital divide reflects (GDD) inequalities in digital connection due to gender.
Universally, the percentage of women utilizing the internet is 12% less than the percentage of men, and of all developed nations in Africa, this gap expands to 31%.
Source: Itnewsafrica.com
