Title: From Village Paths to Digital Dreams – A Girl in STEM from Kakamega

My name is Rose Masidza, and I come from a small village in rural Kakamega, Kenya. I am a woman in STEM, currently working as a software developer and leading a grassroots initiative called TechSisters Kakamega. But my journey began with a spark, a second-hand computer, and a teacher who believed in me.

Growing up, life in my village was simple but tough. We fetched water from the river, studied by kerosene lamps, and shared tattered textbooks. Technology was a distant concept—something we saw only in Nairobi-set TV shows. But everything changed when I joined Form One and met Madam Jane ’, our school’s only ICT teacher. She had just returned from a training program in Nairobi and was passionate about bringing digital literacy to rural girls.

She introduced us to the basics of computing using the only functioning desktop in the school’s “computer lab.” For many of my classmates, it was just another subject. But for me, it felt like magic. The first time I wrote a simple code that made a sentence appear on the screen, I was hooked. Madam Jane’ noticed my enthusiasm and gave me extra assignments, often letting me sneak into the lab during lunch.

However, being a girl in tech came with challenges. Many of my relatives didn’t understand why I spent time “playing with machines.” Some said I should focus on cooking and preparing for marriage, not “boyish careers.” I felt isolated and questioned myself. But Madam Jane’ kept reminding me: "Technology is not male or female. It’s about solving problems."

After high school, I was fortunate to earn a scholarship to study Computer Science at Masinde Muliro University. The transition was overwhelming—everything was faster, more competitive, and male-dominated. But I persisted, learning not just how to code but how to build systems, networks, and eventually, communities.

In my third year, I returned to Kakamega for a school break and visited my former school. It broke my heart to see that the old desktop was now broken and unused. That visit sparked the idea for TechSisters Kakamega—a program to bring basic digital literacy, coding, and leadership training to girls in rural schools.

We started with weekend workshops in my village, using borrowed laptops and a donated projector. The first cohort had 12 girls, most of whom had never typed on a keyboard. We taught them everything from typing skills to creating simple websites. What amazed me was how quickly they caught on—and how their confidence grew.

Since 2021, TechSisters Kakamega has trained over 200 girls across six villages. We've partnered with local schools and NGOs to provide Wi-Fi hotspots, used laptops, and mentorship. Some of our graduates have gone on to join university tech programs or start small online businesses.

The impact I’m most proud of is not just the skills we've taught, but the mindsets we've shifted. Girls who once feared technology now lead clubs, teach their peers, and dream of becoming software engineers, data scientists, or tech entrepreneurs.

Of course, we’ve faced hurdles—limited resources, resistance from conservative community members, and the ever-present gender bias. But each challenge has taught us something. We’ve learned to be resilient, innovative, and patient. Most of all, we’ve learned that change starts with belief—belief in ourselves and in each other.

If I could write a letter to every girl in rural Kenya, I would say this:

"You are more powerful than you know. Your ideas, your voice, and your presence matter in tech. Don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise. The world needs your perspective. Be curious, be bold, and never stop learning."

When girls are placed at the center of technology, everything changes. Solutions become more inclusive. Innovation becomes more human. Communities grow stronger, and no one is left behind.

My hope for the future is clear: a digital world where every girl from Kakamega to Kirinyaga has access to the tools, training, and support to thrive. A world where she doesn't just use technology—she shapes it.

Together, we’re not just teaching girls how to code. We’re helping them rewrite the future.