SoftCodeTheory

Let’s get real for a second, tech often feels like it’s only for Silicon Valley kids or people with expensive degrees. But here’s the truth: African girls are building AI, designing apps, analyzing data, and creating products that actually matter all from home. And the best part? There are fully funded and low-cost programs designed specifically to help you break into tech, gain mentorship, and land a job without burning a hole in your wallet.   Whether you’re curious about AI 🤖, web development 💻, product design 🎨, or branding 👩🏾‍💼, this list has programs that hit seriously, no “free trial” energy.    1. Africa Agility: African Girls in Tech – Cohort 9.0   Why it hits: This is the real deal. Fully funded, serious mentorship, and a curriculum that prepares you for actual tech jobs.   What you learn: AI, Web Development, Product Design, Data Analytics, Branding & Marketing. Not just a “learn HTML and disappear” kind of vibe — you get hands-on skills, a ...

National Women’s Day is more than a calendar event. It is a reminder to reflect on the contributions women have made across industries, to acknowledge the barriers they have faced, and to commit to building a more inclusive future. In the world of technology, South African women have played key roles for over a century, yet their stories are often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Today, women make up about 23% of South Africa’s tech workforce, a figure that is growing thanks to mentorship programmes, coding bootcamps, and women-led organisations. But the journey to this point was neither quick nor easy. The history of women in technology in South Africa stretches back to the early 1900s, long before hashtags like #WomenInTech or #GirlsWhoCode existed. In this post, we will explore the milestones that have shaped women’s place in the South African tech industry, from the early days of telegraphy to the rise of coding communities today. Early Foundations: Telegraph Operators in t...

  Learning tech skills is no longer just for Silicon Valley bros with comp-sci degrees. It’s for writers, creators, digital hustlers, and literally anyone with WiFi. And the best part? You don’t have to spend a cent to get started in. In this post, I’m showing you how to learn real tech skills for free. Whether you’re in South Africa, a broke student, or just curious about pivoting into tech — this is for you. Start with What Interests You The first mistake people make is trying to learn everything at once. Don’t. Start by figuring out what actually excites you. If you’re creative and visual, explore design tools like Canva or Figma. If you like writing and analysis, try UX writing or AI prompt crafting. If you’re more technical or enjoy solving puzzles, coding and data science might be your thing. Even if you just want to earn online, there are tech-adjacent jobs like AI training and digital marketing you can learn without coding. Knowing your direction will save you tim...