BABESGOTBYTES: HOW THIS NPO IS HELPING GIRLS AND WOMEN SUCCEED IN THE IT INDUSTRY

Science Stars chats to Phindiwe Nqanqaru about her journey from being a young woman who didn't have access to coding education to co-founding an NPO that creates spaces where women and girls can be empowered through technology and innovation.

By: Nadine Sims

BabesGotBytes is a Cape Townbased NPO working on changing the face of the Information Technology (IT) industry. They are focused on training young girls and women to code.

Co-founder Phindiwe Nqanqaru is leading the pack by example. She is from a small town in the Eastern Cape called Elliot. She matriculated from a high school in Cape Town. Unfortunately, her results meant she could not qualify to further her tertiary education.

Coding and IT was foreign to her until her friend suggested she look into CodeX, where her journey into the technology industry started. CodeX is an educational institute that equips and teaches students various coding languages, with the only entry criteria being an NQF 4 or matric.

Nqanqaru explains that even at CodeX, she noticed that there were 50 students, and only seven of them were women. "When we would go to the tech companies and hackathons, you would see very few females," she said.

She believes that societal and cultural battles are still discouraging women and girls from pursuing careers in ICT and engineering. Even at a high school level, most students taking CAT (the computer subject at high school) are young males. This is why representation is important; when young women see other women excelling in the industry, they are more inclined to consider it a career option.

BabesGotBytes was established in 2019, and its main aim is to create spaces where women and girls can be impacted, empowered and transformed through technology and innovation. They are based in Gugulethu, Mfuleni and Mitchells Plain, with Khayelitsha coming on board soon.

The skills they are being equipped with are not only coding and IT-related but also general problem-solving and time management skills, and they are encouraged to be independent thinkers. "This we have seen, in turn, give them confidence when it comes to tackling big challenges not only in their training but also in their lives," Nqanqaru explained.

At first, the organisation didn't have the space, funding or resources to set their dream into motion. They then approached a school in Gugulethu and asked to use their computer lab for their classes. They agreed, and that is where they started working.

It was quite a busy year for Nqanqaru. When she started BabesGotBytes, she was also offered a job as an intern. So during the week, she would work as an intern training staff and afterschool students who came to CodeX to learn to code. On weekends, she would switch her focus to BabesGotBytes.

Currently, there is an afterschool programme for those still in high school and a full-time programme for older students. There are also no criteria for entry – your background, experience or qualification is not considered. They welcome everyone that they see who wants to really upskill themselves.

The organisation also hosts a monthly workshop where they visit different communities in the province, teaching them basic computer skills. The initial two-hour session is not done on a computer, but they use pseudo-games, which is using a computer without using a computer.

Currently, the organisation does not have direct funding and is still applying for funding. They have specific organisations that support them, like the German company TYPO3 which donates used laptops and contributes toward data costs.

In 2021 BabesGotBytes was a top 10 Youth Start Winner, which is acknowledged by the City of Cape Town. Additionally, last year, Nqanqaru was selected by Google to be a Women Tech Ambassador.

The long-term goal is for BabesGotBytes to expand and be a fully-equipped technology school that will teach various courses. At the moment, the current courses are focused on web development, robotics, UI and UX design. The plan is to branch out and add more skills and languages to the offering. There are also hopes of expanding into the Eastern Cape.

When asked what advice she would give young women looking to break into the tech industry, Nqanqaru said: "To all the young girls out there who are interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry, go for it with full determination and confidence. Don't let anyone or anything hold you back from pursuing your dreams. The tech industry is open to individuals of all genders, and your unique perspective and skills can contribute immensely to its growth and innovation."

Matric results are important, but if you are feeling discouraged about your results, know that you have a place in the technology industry. Nqanqaru advised: "The tech industry is now more focused on what a person can do than just a certificate. They welcome young talents with just a Matric, and many organisations and communities are dedicated to supporting women in tech, such as BabesGotBytes, CodeX, GirlCode etc."

"The tech industry needs your voices, ideas, and creativity. Together, we can create a more inclusive and diverse tech landscape," Nqanqaru added.

For more information about BabesGotBytes or to get in contact with them, visit: BabesGotBytes.org