Soccer, technology and women, want to make change in Africa

South African professional soccer club Kaizer Chiefs and PinkCodrs women's organization and technology Africa partnered in an initiative that challenges the current shortage of female software developers worldwide by empowering women to become computer coders and helping to build a strong network of female software developers in Africa.

PinkCodrs Africa, founded by Mbali Hlongwane, wants to help change the low number of female developers in Africa by providing opportunities for women interested in coding and creating sustainable change in the software development industry.

Through this initiative with PinkCodrs, Kaizer Chiefs aims to initially improve 20 women to grow the data science market, ensure that women have access to relevant information and skills that will enable them to shape the future.

The PinkCords initiative, which aims to bring together several different women who share their passion for IT under one roof. They are special because they aim to close the technology inequality gap, with the goal of adding 100,000 women to the technology industry by 2030.

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For Kaizer Chiefs, the initiative is very important because "Just like we are a football club, Kaizer Chiefs' goal is to always grow the business beyond the playing field by introducing and building the brand in new markets and empowering women," says Jessica Motaung, director of Kaizer Chiefs marketing. "Women's participation in technology is growing and we always believe in being at the forefront of the fourth industrial revolution and the technological advances that exist in the world."

PinkCodrs has also partnered with various ICT companies to ensure the programs are successful. They include Liquid Telecoms, SnakeNation, Huawei, and Microsoft.