She Coded Her Way Out: My Mission to Empower Girls in ICT

I come from a village where dreams are often buried before they’re born.

Girls are told to lower their gaze, shrink their voices, and settle for less. We are raised with phrases like “technology is for boys” and “you’ll get married soon, why learn computers?” But deep in my heart, I’ve always believed that a girl with a digital tool in her hand can change the world—and I’m living proof.

My name is Hellen Ndanu, a third-year journalism and mass communication student in Kenya. But before I became that girl editing videos, writing scripts, and researching online—I was just a curious girl watching boys use computers while we, the girls, were told to sweep the floor.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw a girl in ICT. She was speaking on a panel on TV, talking about artificial intelligence and how she was solving community problems with technology. My eyes sparkled. Something awakened in me. I didn’t even know what “coding” meant, but I knew I wanted to be like her—a girl who uses technology not just to survive, but to lead.

That moment planted a seed in me, and I began nurturing it, even without tools. I borrowed laptops, stayed late in the school’s computer lab, and used my  phone to learn digital skills. I joined free online courses, asked a thousand questions, and fell in love with the power of ICT.

But something didn’t sit right with me—why was I the only one?

I looked around and saw girls in my community dropping out of school, forced into early marriages, or paralyzed by fear of digital spaces. So I made a decision: I will not rise alone. If I can learn, I will teach. If I can access the digital world, I will build a bridge for others to cross.

So I started small—organizing mini workshops during school breaks. I taught girls how to write digital resumes, how to apply for online opportunities, and how to use simple tools like Canva to design flyers for their small businesses. Some had never touched a computer before. Some didn’t even believe they were “smart enough.”

But after a few sessions, I saw the sparkle return to their eyes. One girl told me, “Hellen, I didn’t know I could be more than just a wife. Now I want to become a web designer.”

And that… that moment made all the sleepless nights worth it.

I now dream of opening a digital hub where girls in remote areas can access free ICT lessons, mentorship, and the confidence to dream bigger. I believe technology can heal, connect, and liberate. But only if we ensure no girl is left behind.

To the girls afraid of touching a keyboard—touch it. Break it if you must. But don’t walk away from it. You belong in the digital space.

To the women who feel “too old” to learn—start today. There’s no expiry date on your brilliance.

And to every leader reading this—invest in girls. Give them tools, give them space, give them trust. They will build you a future you never imagined.

Today, on Girls in ICT Day, I raise my voice not just for myself—but for the thousands of girls whose brilliance remains untapped. I may not be a coder yet, but I am a builder—of dreams, of futures, of digital bridges for girls to walk across boldly.

Let’s rewire the system. Let’s ignite the digital dreams of girls everywhere. Let’s prove that when you teach a girl ICT—you light up a whole generation.