Digital inclusivity and creating a space for girls to use their creativity to create opportunities for themselves and for their communities is one of the key focus area of Pwaniteknowgalz .in its mission to bridge the gender Gap of women in the STEM field. Every year Pwani Teknowgalz involves High school in Technovation program which invites girls to solve community problems through technology.Technovation Challenge is one of the key programs in Mombasa.This year we have involved 13 teams from 5 high schools in mombasa to participate in technovation challenge in partnership with safaricom Women in Technology.The official launch of the program this year took place at Safaricom offices on 28th January 2017.The 5 high schools that participated in the challenge were:

Sheikh khalifa Secondary School

Mt sinai Secondary School

Qubaa High School

Memon High school

Likoni Mixed Secondary schools

The girls created mobile application prototypes using the MIT App inventor tool.They targeted SDGs like health, Education,environment and creating sustainable cities and communities..Two of our teams in Mombasa made it to the semifinals this year! One of the teams Techno Royals created an application that helps university students locate safe and affordable hostels while the other team Rstar4 created an application helping users recycle waste properly .”I love computer science it helps me think”Fatima a participant in the technovation challenge 2017 told her fellow participants during the official launch of technovation challenge 2017 that happened at Safaricom offices in Mombasa we believe that this is a milestone for Mombasa women to be empowered through Technology. .

We would like to .appreciate our couches Aisha Abdul-Qadir,Ruth kaveke,joan Nabusoba,Dorine kamau,Irene Ndungu ,shamim juma,Emeldah ,Saadiya,camila Nurein and Farida Mwikali for mentoring the girls throught the program