On March 7, 2025, Malawi announced a series of initiatives to train girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills.
This effort aims to bridge the gender gap in education and employment by providing young women with essential digital skills and inspiring them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Empowering girls through digital literacy
A Malawian non-profit organisation, Reach Out to Girls, is leading this initiative. It offers a five-week ICT training program to equip young women, particularly those from marginalised groups, with basic digital skills.
The programme teaches students basic ICT ideas and tools to help them navigate the digital world and flourish personally and professionally.
Sarah Khudze, founder of Reach Out to Girls, highlighted girls’ challenges, including limited access to computers and the internet, cultural stereotypes discouraging them from pursuing STEM, and a lack of female role models in technology fields.
Khudze emphasised, “Our program addresses these barriers by providing hands-on training, mentorship, and a supportive learning environment where girls can gain confidence in their digital skills.”
Another initiative, the ICT for Education (ICT4Ed) program, focuses on providing free computer end-user training to girls and young women.
This program, run by the Revolution Human Aid and Transparency Initiative (REHAAT-INITIATIVE), targets girls who have completed secondary school and are preparing to enrol in colleges or universities. The goal is to enhance their performance in higher education, where computer skills are essential for academic success.
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Mentorship and community engagement
Mentorship and training initiatives help young women pursue STEM jobs. The Women in STEM mentorship program in Malawi encourages young female scientists by delivering positive and engaging science, research, and innovation experiences.
This organisation matches mentees with seasoned female scientists to encourage young women to continue in STEM professions.
Halima Twabi, a biostatistics PhD student and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics co-founder, has helped. She creates mentoring programs to encourage young women to study science.
Twabi’s initiatives have established science clubs in rural areas, promoting science among primary and secondary school children.
These programs teach girls STEM and ICT skills and foster a supportive community. Malawi is advancing gender equality in education and employment by removing barriers to girls’ STEM education and technology.