Google has launched “Womenwill”, an initiative aimed at creating economic opportunities for South African, Kenyan and Nigerian women by equipping them with digital literacy, entrepreneurship and leadership skills. The initiative also aims to drive conversations promoting gender equality to benefit everyone.
The initiative was announced at Google’s International Women’s Day celebration and simultaneously launched in Nairobi, Kenya and Nigeria. The new 18 chapters are located across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in cities including Accra, Cape Town, Dares Salaam, Johannesburg, Lagos and Onitsha, bringing the total number of chapters in Africa to 25, with more to be launched in the coming weeks.
Google SA communications and public affairs head, Mich Atagana said the initiative is Google’s way of helping to bridge the magnitude of the gender-based disparity in SA, while speaking at the launch held in Johannesburg.
Atagana said since 2016, Google has worked to upskill young people and small businesses in Africa through its Digital Skills for Africa program. This has helped participants find jobs and grow their businesses.
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“From helping women across Kenya access digital skills and bringing together women entrepreneurs, Google is keen on developing and supporting programs that help women build skills, get inspired and connect with each other,” said Farzana Khubchandani, Country Marketing Manager, Google, Kenya.
The Google Africa Brand & Reputation Lead, Mrs Mojolaoluwa Akinremi-Makinde, while unveiling the initiative in Lagos said that eighteen new Womenwill chapters had been opened across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Bridging this gender gap she said, was the motivation for expanding the Womenwill chapters in Sub-Saharan Africa and continuing Google’s focus on diversity and gender equality into 2019 and beyond. “Our digital skills training has been offered in 29 countries across Africa with over a million people recording business growth, starting new businesses, finding jobs or growing in their current jobs. “We have trained more than 3 million people in total, of which 48 per cent are women.”
The Womenwill all work alongside volunteers in implementing the various skills development projects to be held in their local community centres. The centres will be equipped with computers, infrastructure, Internet access and other technologies.
The launch followed a week of Digital Masterclasses involving 5000 women at various location in these countries.