Sage, a global leader in accounting and technology for SMBs, marks the fifth anniversary of its partnership with GirlCode, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young girls and women in the technology field. This collaboration aims to equip aspiring GirlCoders in South Africa with essential skills, addressing the gender gap and fostering a diverse and future-ready technology workforce.
In a bid to bridge the gender disparity in the technology sector, Sage Foundation and GirlCode join forces for the fifth consecutive year. The initiative focuses on providing 1,000 young South African GirlCoders with coding and technology skills, coupled with education and mentorship programs geared towards enhancing their STEM skills.
GirlCode CEO, Zandile Mkwanazi, emphasizes the importance of empowering girls and women in the tech sector from a young age. With only 23% of technology jobs currently held by women, the initiative aims to cultivate a future-ready workforce essential for driving economic prosperity. Mkwanazi highlights the critical need for technology skills in South Africa, especially amid a rising youth unemployment crisis.
Derk Bleeker, Sage President, EMEA, acknowledges the obstacles faced by young women entering the technology workforce, including a lack of role models and structural discrimination. As an international technology company, Sage recognizes its role in addressing digital inequality. The collaboration with GirlCode exemplifies Sage’s commitment to providing access to digital learning and technology skills, breaking down barriers and contributing to a more inclusive technology workforce.
Sage Foundation’s STEM programs have globally supported over 12,000 individuals in the financial year 2023, bringing the cumulative total to nearly 19,000 over the last two years. In South Africa, these initiatives target learners at the school level and young people embarking on careers, with the overarching goal of equipping the next generation, particularly young girls and women, with the skills necessary to thrive in a digital economy.
Pieter Bensch, Executive Vice President for Sage Africa & Middle East, emphasizes the urgency of keeping South Africa’s skills base aligned with the rapid transformations brought about by artificial intelligence and automation. Sage Foundation’s overarching goal is to ensure that the technology sector is diverse, allowing all South Africans to benefit from the opportunities it creates.
As Sage celebrates five years of collaboration with GirlCode, it reaffirms its commitment to fostering a more inclusive, diverse, and skilled technology workforce that will shape the future of the industry in South Africa and beyond.
