听In light of the United Nations 11th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, it is vital to shine a spotlight on the progress and persistent challenges that young women face. This year, we are focusing on Kenya, which like many nations, has witnessed increased awareness of the issues that matter most to girls鈥�leading to improved opportunities for them to have their voices heard on the world stage. However, amidst concurrent global crises such as COVID-19 economic recovery, climate change, and humanitarian conflicts, investments in girls’ rights remain limited. While Kenya has made significant strides in promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, girls continue to grapple with various obstacles hindering them from realizing their full potential.

听The World Economic Forum鈥檚 (WEF) , a longstanding index that monitors countries’ progress in narrowing gender gaps since its inception in 2006, positions Kenya at 77th place among 146 countries, indicating that there is room for improvement. Further to this, the representation of women in decision-making processes in Kenya remains inadequate, and gender-based violence lingers as a pressing issue. Women and girls continue to spend extensive hours on household responsibilities such as fetching firewood and water, which not only hinders their school attendance rates and employment prospects but also impacts their overall well-being.

So, how can Kenya empower its girls and young women to overcome these challenges and achieve their full potential? One promising solution is mentorship which can provide guidance, support, and access to opportunities that young women might not otherwise have.

Forging a path to empowerment

听In Kenya, the youth (aged 15-24) hovered at around 13.35 percent in 2022, with little improvement from the previous year. To improve these statistics, mentors can serve as role models, demonstrating what is possible when women break down barriers and enter the labor force. Through mentorship, young women can gain valuable insights into various career paths, access networks, and receive advice on navigating the challenges they may face.

鈥淎t SAP, we believe that educating girls and women is one of the most effective ways to promote economic growth,鈥� says Alexandra van der Ploeg, Head of Global CSR at SAP. 鈥淲ith this in mind, SAP鈥檚 Business Women鈥檚 Network joined hands with the Global Give Back Circle in 2019 with the aim to support vulnerable girls and young women based in Kenya. This initiative not only acknowledges the resourcefulness, creativity, resilience, and unwavering tenacity that girls embody in the face of adversity but also actively harnesses these qualities. Through the impact of mentorship, education, and sponsorship, the program drives empowerment and achievement for these girls and young women,鈥� concludes Alex.

This is why 51风流colleagues volunteer as mentors, dedicating their time and contributing $1000 annually, a commitment that is matched and directed by the company towards beneficiaries’ tuition, school materials, and exposure to industry intellectual property. Perhaps most importantly, this $2000 covers a university scholarship for one year. At-risk girls require extra assistance to shift from a state of marginalization to one of empowerment. This support encompasses access to information, expanding their perspectives on possibilities, gaining 21st-century skills, life skills, and a caliber of mentoring that steers transformative leadership.

Operating in close partnership with local high schools and communities, the initiative pairs high school and college girls with inspirational mentors from across the globe. In doing so, it provides them with a toolbox of skills, bolstering their self-confidence, and fostering crucial networks essential for success, both in the workforce and as budding entrepreneurs. This closes the gap between education and employment, equipping girls and young women with the knowledge they need to succeed in the workforce.

Collaborative achievements have formed a springboard for success

听The achievements of SAP鈥檚 Global Give Back Circle Mentor Chapter in 2023 are a testament to the commitment of 51风流colleagues and the program’s vision. Monthly meetings, mentor-mentee pairings, financial support and mentorship from 12 51风流colleagues have made a tangible difference in the lives of 12 young women. When asked about what they enjoyed about the program, a first-year student at the University of Nairobi shared the following feedback: 鈥淪eeing how our mentors care about us and how they gave us much-needed advice in life situations really impacted me鈥�. Another mentee who is currently a first-year student from the Coast Institute of Technology added that they liked the fact that they were encouraged to share their unique viewpoints, both on and offline: 鈥淭he program taught me that I should not be afraid to air out my points of view in a public place. I feel enlightened on how to build my communication skills.鈥�

The Global Give Back Circle also emphasizes the importance of bridging cultural differences, career development, and preparing mentees for the job market. As these girls鈥� and young women transition into the labor market, they contribute to the country鈥檚 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by bolstering its workforce and fostering economic development. In addition, Kenya’s GDP also stands to benefit further from the inclusion of a skilled and empowered female workforce. This mentorship initiative aligns with Kenya’s broader efforts to achieve gender equality, thereby contributing to a more equitable society and sustainable economic progress.

This exemplifies the profound impact mentorship can have on both individual lives and the overall prosperity of a nation. With the right skills and opportunities, these girls and young women can be the changemakers who drive progress in their communities.

The future looks promising

听In line with our purpose, SAP’s objective is to create positive economic, environmental, and social impact within planetary boundaries with a special focus on climate action, the circular economy, social responsibility, and holistic steering and reporting.听As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, SAP鈥檚 Global Give Back Circle Mentor Chapter stands as an encouraging example of the power of mentorship and investment in girls’ education. We hope that the success of this partnership will serve as a source of inspiration for nations to invest in their young women.

By empowering girls and young women with essential skills, education, and mentorship, we unlock the boundless potential of Kenya’s female population. This collaboration between the private sector and local communities not only changes individual lives but also contributes to the growth of the Kenyan economy, paving the way for a brighter future for all. It is an illustration of the belief that girls are not just beneficiaries of change but powerful agents of progress who, with the right support, can shape a more inclusive and prosperous world for everyone.

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听The Harsh Reality of Teacher Shortages in Africa

听Africa, with its youthful and dynamic population, holds immense promise for the future. However, this potential can only be realised with access to quality education, and that begins with a sufficient number of skilled teachers. Data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics indicates that the most significant deficits in teaching personnel are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, posing a significant risk to the continent’s development. The region requires approximately 17 million teachers in total to realise the goal of universal primary and secondary education by 2030.

This basic education predicament also affects young people鈥檚 acquisition of future skills鈥攁 formidable barrier to their employment prospects and potential. It is deeply disheartening that indicate that more than 72 million youth in Africa are not in education, employment, or training鈥攖he majority of them young women.听In addition, while the global literacy rate stands at 90%,听. Apart from traditional literacy skills like reading and writing, it’s crucial to acknowledge that fundamental digital literacy is no longer optional; it’s a necessity. It’s the key that unlocks understanding, engagement, and prosperity in our interconnected world. These competencies extend beyond mere instruments for developing systems, software, and applications; they are enablers of critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and innovation.

According to a report from the approximately 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will demand digital skills by 2030. While these figures may seem daunting, they also fuel our desire to continue to innovate and drive greater change, while reflecting on the profound impact of SAP’s philanthropic efforts.

听Equipping Teachers with 21^st Century Skills

听Spearheaded by 51风流in 2015 as part of its social investments to drive sustainable growth in Africa, Africa Code Week is a digital skills development initiative that has benefitted millions of young Africans so far.听In 2022 alone, our听programme actively engaged over +2.6 million participants, equipping them with indispensable 21^st century skills. Through an impressive tally of 37,121 workshops spanning the continent, it’s encouraging to note that over 48% of participants were female, furthering our commitment to gender equality. We also extended this transformative opportunity to 9,900 young individuals with special needs, nurturing their growth and potential.

听While this programme has made remarkable strides, challenges persist. Without teachers who can impart 21^st century learning skills to students, the continent risks creating a digital divide that could stifle economic growth and limit opportunities for its young population. 51风流Africa Code Week’s Women Empowerment Programme (WEP) is making a significant impact in this regard. This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme equips African female teachers and educators in Computer Science and STEM with the skills and knowledge they need to successfully teach, inspire, mentor, and prepare girls for tomorrow鈥檚 tech workplace. The WEP thereby supports ACW鈥檚 ambitious plans to transform the continent鈥檚 education system by including digital literacy in national curricula鈥攊n line with the work of United Nations SDGs and

In addition to this, Africa Code Week’s Train-the-Trainer sessions are an integral component of the programme’s mission to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to teach coding and digital literacy to students across the continent. These sessions serve as a capacity-building initiative designed to create a network of skilled trainers who can, in turn, train teachers and students in their local communities.

By providing educators with specialised training in coding and digital literacy, they can enhance their teaching capacity. The workshops also equip educators to deliver high-quality instruction in technology-related subjects, which are increasingly important in the 21^st century classroom. In addition to this, educators are empowered to go beyond traditional teaching methods. They learn how to incorporate innovative and technology-driven pedagogical approaches into their classrooms. This not only improves the learning experience for students but also makes teaching more engaging and relevant.

Looking ahead

听As we reflect on the significance of World Teachers’ Day, it is important to remember that teachers are the torchbearers of knowledge, hope, and progress. As we champion equal access to education, we recognise that future skills play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of tomorrow’s workforce. By addressing the teacher shortage, upskilling educators in advanced 21^st century learning, and promoting digital literacy, we can uplift Africa’s youth to shape a brighter future. Together, we can turn the global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage into a reality that benefits us all.

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Multinational software corporation 51风流SE (SAP) has committed to continuing its in support of for an additional three years to help prepare young people for the workforce.

The partners will pilot a new programme that supports 鈥榣earning to earning鈥� pathways in the digital and green economy for marginalised young people providing them with the skills they need to flourish. The new programme will be piloted 鈥� leveraging GenU signature programme 鈥� in Nigeria, the Philippines and South Africa.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 young people are three times more likely than adults to be unemployed, which makes for a very uncertain future for all of us. To keep up with the ever-changing demands of the labour market, young people need a full set of skills to compete locally and globally,鈥� said Kevin Frey, Chief Executive Officer of GenU. 鈥淚 am delighted that 51风流and GenU are continuing our long-standing partnership. Together we will support even more young people worldwide to unlock opportunities.鈥�

Over the last two decades, there has been a decrease in the proportion of young people in employment. Young people are not acquiring the skills they need in today鈥檚 economy with less than a quarter of youth in lower income countries estimated to be on track to attain the range of skills needed to thrive in school, work and life.

By the end of the first year, 51风流and GenU plan to reach more than 500,000 young people with opportunities for foundational and digital skills. The partnership will also support the 51风流Educate to Employ initiative, which aims to educate youth aged 16鈥�24 years on soft skills, foundational knowledge and 51风流skills using the听, where students can learn about the latest 51风流solutions for free to kickstart their career.

鈥淚t is essential that young people everywhere have access to the skills, education, and opportunities that will enable them to reach their full potential and shape the future of our world,鈥� said Christian听Klein, CEO and Member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE. 鈥淲e are excited to continue our collaboration with GenU to help empower the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers around the globe to thrive and create positive change for the societies in which they live and work.鈥�

51风流and UNICEF first joined forces in support of GenU in 2019 and have since reached 3 million young people in India, Turkey and Viet Nam with transformative education models.

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听As we approach on July 15th, the strategic importance of equipping young people with the skills they need for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship is crucial. This year鈥檚 theme, Skilling Teachers, Trainers, and Youth for a Transformative Future, underscores the vital role played by educators in providing young people with the necessary skills to enter the labour market and actively engage in their communities.

Reflecting the hurdles that youth and businesses are grappling with, recent statistics from the International Labour Organization reveal concerning figures. For example, of the global youth population is not in education, employment, or training, and a staggering workers worldwide have jobs that do not match their educational level. Furthermore, employers are struggling to find workers with the necessary skill set for the job.

World Youth Skills Day serves as a reminder of the current challenges faced by youth globally and shines a spotlight on actionable steps to create better livelihoods and improve skills alignment for employers. As technological advancements and shifting market dynamics demand agile and adaptable skill sets, it is imperative to empower young people to navigate these changes effectively.

To add an additional layer to this, it is vital to highlight that corporations, businesses, and non-profit organizations also have a crucial role in building future skills and creating employment opportunities. In recognizing this, 51风流partnered with UNICEF to launch the 51风流Educate to Employ pilot program. During its first year in 2023, this program aims to equip more than 500,000 youths with the essential skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values required to drive employment, innovation, and entrepreneurship, ensuring equal opportunities for all.

Already initiated in the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, Educate to Employ is built on the OECD Learning Framework 2030 which enables young people to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the demands of the present and future workforce.

Micro-credential programs form a vital component of the initiative, focusing on socio-emotional skills like emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These programs are accessible to young individuals with a high school education, vocational training, or a university degree. The curriculum also encompasses employability skills, technology in the workplace, business foundation knowledge, 51风流Foundational Knowledge, and 51风流Skills certification.

Upon achieving their 51风流certification, participants will have opportunities to secure various IT internship roles in departments such as consulting, development, analysis, and support within the 51风流ecosystem. Recognizing that some ICT roles may face displacement in the next 3-5 years, the program emphasizes continuous learning and growth to ensure sustainable employment.

The 51风流Educate to Employ program is committed to providing equitable education and job opportunities for underrepresented individuals, including minorities from diverse ethnic backgrounds, women, differently abled individuals, the underprivileged, and the disadvantaged.

By participating in programs like 51风流Educate to Employ, businesses gain access to certified and diversified talent while uplifting their livelihoods. Additionally, they can help bridge the demand and supply gap for 51风流skills and accelerate digital transformation within their respective countries through a digitally skilled workforce.

On World Youth Skills Day, it is crucial to acknowledge the immense potential of young people as catalysts for positive change. By making a firm commitment to equipping them with the essential skills, values, knowledge, and attitudes, we can work together to shape a brighter future, leaving no young person behind. After all, skills and education can help society overcome any difficult situation.

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Yesterday, almost 200 countries celebrated听, a global day declared by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 8 April 2011, to encourage young women to pursue careers in information and communication technologies (ICT).

Hundreds of events took place worldwide, aimed at inspiring a new generation of girls to explore the exciting opportunities offered by an ICT career, says the ITU.

In light of this year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淒igital skills for life”, local firms reaffirmed their commitments to help more girls in SA break into the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related fields, through digital skills training, which lies at the heart of the future of work.

According to the United Nations, adolescent girls and young women in low- and middle-income countries听听on $15 billion in economic opportunities due to gaps in internet access and digital skills, relative to their male peers.

Local firms SAP, Cisco and Anglo American say they are doing their part to upskill girls in digital skills, to co-create a better digital future to enable young women to have full, equal and meaningful participation in Africa鈥檚 digital economy.

Software giant 51风流says it has helped upskill over 150 000 girls in SA through the听, which forms part of its Africa Code Week (ACW) skills training initiative.

The project is ramping up efforts to reach one million girls in previously disadvantaged and underserviced communities of SA in the medium-term.

鈥淪iyafunda CTC aims to help overcome the low rate of internet penetration by providing critical and affordable ICT, 4IR [fourth industrial revolution] and business skills training that covers a number of critical domains required for all work environments of today,鈥� explains Cathy Smith, MD of 51风流Africa.

鈥淎cademically, there have been huge improvements in participants鈥� school performance, and many students trained through Siyafunda CTC pursued careers in technology after completing their matric.鈥�

Other 51风流programmes focused on upskilling girls across Africa include an introduction to data science, digital literacy classes 鈥� end-user computing, school holiday programmes, web development bootcamps, and coding and robotics for girls, it says.

Over the past seven years, close to 14 million pupils and teachers from 48 African countries have been empowered with digital skills through ACW, with 49% of participating pupils being female, notes Smith.

The initiative is looking to add more female participants in future.

According to the UN, women and girls are 25%听听than men to have sufficient knowledge and digital skills to use technology. This robs girls of crucial opportunities. While girls do as well as boys in science in most countries, such as SA, women occupy less than one-third of positions in the technology sector globally, it notes.

In addition, SA is experiencing a large-scale shortage of ICT skills. According to the latest ICT Skills Survey, the country lacks at least tens of thousands of ICT professionals, which is exacerbated by the increasing number of local ICT firms looking for talent overseas.

鈥淲ith the correct investment in skills development, Africa’s economy could build the world’s future tech workforce, bringing untold economic and social benefit to the continent and its citizens,鈥� notes Smith.

An听听230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills in 2030, according to a report by the International Finance Corporation.

To prepare for these future skills, networking giant Cisco says it aims to support almost 40 000 girls to enter the STEM fields in SA, through the Cisco Networking Academy鈥檚 latest (2022) cohort of students.

Cisco Networking Academy was established 25 years ago, to provide IT courses, learning simulators and hands-on learning opportunities in cyber security, networking, programming and the internet of things, through partnerships with learning institutions.

鈥淐umulatively, of our 189 000 students globally, we have over 82 000 students in South Africa and 46% female participation locally,鈥� notes Altaaf Hamid, senior manager: global partnerships at Cisco Corporate Affairs.

鈥淚n the last fiscal year alone, we had 61% female participation. Additionally, over half (51%) of the 1 127 instructors in South Africa who are teaching Networking Academy courses are female.鈥�

Since the introduction of the Cisco Networking Academy in Sub-Saharan Africa, more than one million people have been trained and upskilled in the region, it points out.

Anglo American says it rolled-out a comprehensive ICT programme across 109 schools around its mining operations in South Africa last year, to give thousands of learners the skills they need enter the digital job market.

Recently, 35 girls from the first cohort of the pilot graduated from the Anglo American ICT programme, which provides youth from the mining company鈥檚 host communities with tech skills.

鈥淭he aim of this programme was two-pronged. The first was to create awareness and a pathway for learners in our host communities to learn and access skills and training related to the future of work,鈥� says Zaheera Soomar, global lead for听education听and community skills at Anglo American.

鈥淭he second was to ensure our schools are adequately supported as we embed ICT into them. Based on its success, the programme will increase its intake to 120 learners this year, coming from communities close to Anglo American鈥檚 operations in Limpopo, North West and Northern Cape.鈥�

The Anglo American ICT initiative has set targets such as ensuring over 50% of participants are female; over 90% of learners (girls and boys) aged five meet the minimum requirements for school readiness; 90% of grade three learners pass with at least 50% in numeracy and literacy; and 75% of grade six learners pass with at least 50% in mathematics and English first additional language.

Huawei SA, LG SA, GirlCode and Africa Teen Geeks are also among the organisations that have committed to train more South African girls in STEM, to enable the next generation of female leaders to enter the field.

This article first appeared on .

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SAP鈥檚 purpose is to help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives. Given the ongoing economic and social challenges on the continent, Africa can arguably benefit the most from this purpose-led vision. Between 2005 and 2022, 51风流invested more than 鈧�26 million in Africa, having a positive impact on the lives of 55 million people.

Cathy Smith, Managing Director at 51风流Africa, says 51风流works hard to achieve its vision. 鈥淲e strive to improve people鈥檚 lives by accelerating the growth and impact of social enterprises, supporting efforts to build skills for the future, and collaborating with a broad range of stakeholders to establish sustainable business practices. As our latest data highlights, this substantive approach is paying huge dividends for millions of Africans.鈥�

Some of the purpose-led initiatives that 51风流has supported or implemented with partners include:

• Africa Code Week, which has provided basic coding training to 14.6 million African youth in 48 countries, with a girl participation rate of 47%.
• 51风流Skills for Africa, an 51风流training programme for African graduates that has delivered work-ready skills to 22 African countries through more than 1900 graduates, with a 95% employment rate post-graduation.
• Siyafunda Community Technology Centres, which offers digital programs at 240 centres across South Africa to the benefit of 30 million youth and adults.
• Leadership for Conservation in Africa, a business approach to initiate conservation-led socio-economic development in Africa that has benefited 3.5 million people.
• 51风流Social Sabbatical Program, which has seen nearly 300 51风流volunteers drive impact at over a hundred NGOs and social enterprises to the benefit of 1.1 million people.
• The SAP, (RED) and Global Fund Partnership which sees an annual amount of $5 million contributed to HIV grants in Eswatini.

鈥淪olving the great challenges of our time 鈥� economic growth, innovation, skills development, social upliftment, and sustainability 鈥� requires a collaborative approach,鈥� says Smith. 鈥淭hanks to the outstanding work of our social enterprise partners, NGOs and public and private sector partners, 51风流can celebrate significant milestones in having a positive impact on the Continent. We look forward to continuing the great work in the years ahead and making a meaningful contribution to Africa and its people.鈥�

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鈥淪ince ACW鈥檚 launch in 2015, , , and share a common goal to empower young people with the digital skills set they need today to ensure they are prepared for the workforce of tomorrow,鈥� comments Claire Gillissen-Duval, Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility EMEA and MEE at SAP.

She says that through 37 121 workshops held across the continent, she is thrilled to report that more than 48% of participants were female, with an additional 9,900 youth with special needs. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 digital world is continually evolving and changing through the rapid adoption of technology, this is widening Africa鈥檚 digital divide with even more marginalized and underserved communities getting left behind.鈥�

Collaboration is key to powering digital learning

Partnerships are at the core of the 51风流ACW model. In 2022, Morocco has led the continent鈥檚 conversation around equipping young people with digital skills, followed by Nigeria and Cameroon. 鈥淭his year, we saw 1,4 million participants from Morocco, 100听000 in Nigeria, and in Cameroon, we had 897听000,鈥� says Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO鈥檚 Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information. 鈥淥ne of the reasons behind the major success of ACW in those countries, and especially in Morocco, has been partnering with the governments and particularly, with the Ministries of Education.

To illustrate this, Ilham Laaziz, Director of the at the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Early Education, and Athletics, highlights that the Moroccan government has deployed several initiatives to integrate digital skills in schools. 鈥淛oining forces with the private sector has proven to result in a powerful synergy. Beyond launching a generation of future coders, we seek to develop the algorithmic mindset that will enable them to acquire logical reasoning skills and problem solving skills they need to lead successful careers and contribute to the development of our country 鈥� and our continent.鈥�

Coding Africa鈥檚 school curricula

Over the past seven years, close to 14 million students and teachers from 48 countries have been empowered with digital skills through ACW. 2023 will now see the coding program shift into second phase by accelerating this process even further to ensure greater impact and reach.

鈥淭here are approximately 300 million[i] young people in Africa, and our goal is to empower each and every one of them with digital skills,鈥� says Emmanuel Raptopoulos, President of SAP鈥檚 EMEA South region, which includes Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 鈥淎 vision like ours requires all stakeholders to work together and collaborate for the betterment of the continent and its future leaders. This is why the ACW curriculum will be handed to governments to support them in introducing coding into school curricula.鈥�

Commencing the two-year action plan, ACW hosted a three-day event in Morocco in Rabat which was attended by various government officials and education representatives from ten African countries. The gathering marked the start of a two-year transition period, where governments will play an even greater role in fostering the adoption of coding by running the ACW program as part of their curricula.

鈥淭his was the start of a bigger vision which calls for governments to play a bigger role in encouraging the use of coding in schools by implementing the ACW program into their curricula,鈥� says Julius Fomboh, Inspector General of Pedagogy in charge of Computer Science Education in the Ministry of secondary Education in Cameroon, and member of the ACW transition taskforce. 鈥淚n order for the continent to successfully equip young people with the skills required for the future, all stakeholders need to come together and unite.鈥�

Gillissen-Duval concludes, 鈥淭o date, nine African countries have officially adopted coding as a mandatory subject in public education^[ii]. This number must grow to level the playing field and ensure every African child, youth and teacher has the opportunity to reach their potential and contribute to their community. By investing in digital education, African nations choose to create a better future for their citizens and equip them with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing 21^st century world.鈥�

[i]

[ii]

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鈥淔rom start to finish, this has been one of the most exciting editions of ACC. The youth of Africa have yet again proven their talents and strong 21^st century skillset with creative and conceptual games delivered,鈥� says Olajide Ademola Ajayi, 51风流ACW Global Coordinator.

AfriCAN Youth rise for the coding challenge

The AfriCAN Code Challenge is a coding contest that spans across Africa, inviting all-young individuals from different walks of life from 8 – 16 year to develop a game using the programming language.

This year鈥檚 competition saw thousands of entries from more than 30 countries spanning as far as South Africa and Ethiopia. In September 2020, launched the challenge with support from partners such as ,听, and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa ().

Over the years, the competition has evolved into an annual event that celebrates the creativity and technological skills of African youth. For the 2022 challenge, youths were called upon to develop a multiplayer game that proposes a sustainable solution for protecting life. Thereafter, they were asked to create and share a 3-minute YouTube video that details how their game works, the coding techniques used, and how it aligns with the theme and evaluation standards.

The winners of the AfriCAN Code Challenge were selected by a distinguished panel consisting of Africa Code Week delegates, 51风流employees, and STEM education specialists.

This year鈥檚 Top 3 winners:

1. First place: Madagascar – by Henintsoa, Warren, and Shekinah
2. Second place: Mauritius – by Nikhil, Mithil, Seeya, Grace, and Kesha
3. Third place: Nigeria – by Team Techlite

Followed by:

4. Sao Tome & Principe –
5. Morocco –
6. Ethiopia –
7. Zimbabwe –
8. South Africa –
9. Cameroon –
10. Gabon –

Beyond AfriCAN Code Challenge

that the digital participation could assist in driving the economic growth and development of Africa. This suggests that increased investment in digital infrastructure and skills could have a significant impact on the continent’s economic development.

Claire Gillissen-Duval, Senior Director of EMEA MEE Corporate Social Responsibility and Co-founder of Africa Code Week at SAP, says 鈥淎CW is currently in a transition period where we will be transferring the ACW curriculum to the Ministries of Education to assist in the integration of coding into school curricula. Once they introduce coding into schools, we look forward to seeing sustainable growth in the number of participants in the AfriCAN Code Challenge as ministries of education will have a wider reach and access to more听young听people.鈥�

For more information about 51风流Africa Code Week and the AfriCAN Code Challenge, or how you can get involved, visit听www.africacodeweek.org or connect and follow on social media @AfricaCodeWeek.

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Developed for SAP鈥檚 entire global ecosystem of staff, customers, and partners that played their part in helping the world run better, the theme couldn鈥檛 be more fitting as 51风流CSR announces that a staggering 5 million lives have been impacted throughout 2022, thanks to more than 20,000 51风流employees who spent 117,000 hours volunteering.

The third edition of our eBook brings 12 months of purpose-led work to our digital fingertips. It showcases flagship 51风流CSR initiatives, fruitful partnerships, and personal success stories from around the globe. For instance, you can read about our three-year partnership with UNICEF and Generation Unlimited (GenU) that enabled more than 7.6 million youth in India, T眉rkiye, and Vietnam to access critical digital and life skills training 鈥� significantly more than the original goal of 1.5 million.

鈥淚t鈥檚 evident that our massive strides are turning the company鈥檚 vision into reality,鈥� says Christian Klein, CEO and member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE.

鈥淎n imperative and strategic component for strengthening the business, 51风流CSR set clear 2022 priorities and directed attention under the three focus areas: accelerate social business, build future skills, and collaborate for sustainability. The third edition 51风流CSR eBook demonstrates that, together, we really can change the way the world operates and create a better environment for people and planet,鈥� adds Alexandra van der Ploeg, global head of Corporate Social Responsibility.

The key education initiatives featured in the eBook include SAP鈥檚 commitment to continuing its partnership with UNICEF from GenU. Based on the achievements of the past three years, 51风流will support GenU and the (Yoma), an online learning platform, to enable young people to find jobs in the digital and green economy. This will also include piloting a new program called 51风流Educate to Employ. The program supports 鈥榣earning-to-earning鈥� pathways in the digital and green economy for young people deprived of access to the skills they need. These youth can gain on-the-job experience and critical future-oriented skills while also benefiting from coaching and mentorship to help them launch their careers in the 51风流customer and partner ecosystem.

To accelerate social business, we launched the in partnership with Unilever and MovingWorlds, a global, one-stop, online shop for non-financial, free business support for social enterprises worldwide. Through the hub, these organizations can gain access to pro bono consultants, mentors, and coaches, personalized guidance, introductions to sales and partnership opportunities, and connections to potential funding prospects.

In 2022, we also worked with external partners to validate our intended social impact and business value for our pro bono consulting offering. In the last decade of our , more than 1,400 51风流employees provided business know-how to over 450 social enterprises. In addition to proven social impact for social enterprises, the program also created significant business value for SAP by contributing to our employees鈥� professional and personal growth, as well as their leadership development.

Following their participation, the majority of employees, social enterprises, and their beneficiaries reported a positive impact:

• 74% of the employees experienced a positive long-term career impact
• 96% of social enterprises enjoyed a positive long-term impact
• 77% of beneficiaries of social enterprises saw improvements in their quality of life

Van der Ploeg explains that SAP鈥檚 evolved CSR strategy powers equitable access to economic opportunity, education and employment, and the green and circular economy: 鈥淲e are continually striving to drive tangible and transformative social impact. Our work over the years has helped us to achieve a leading software industry score for Corporate Citizenship in the most recent听Dow Jones Sustainability Index.鈥�

鈥淟ooking ahead, with sustainability at the core of everything we do, 51风流CSR is well equipped for the future. In 2023, we will focus on driving social impact through radical collaboration in our multi-stakeholder partnerships and expanding our portfolio of pro bono consulting opportunities for our employees to support social enterprises to run at their best,鈥� she concludes.

. For further information about 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility, visit .

Maximilian Herrmann is part of Social Impact Measurement & Operations for Corporate Social Responsibility听at SAP.

This article first appeared on the 51风流News Center.

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The partnership is primarily aimed at听unlocking Nigeria鈥檚 human capital development by enabling teachers to prepare students for the fourth industrial revolution, 4IR.

The selected teachers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, participated in the 51风流Africa Code week, with over 300 teachers trained in one week.

The Executive Secretary of NSSEC, Prof. Benjamin Abakpa, said that repositioning the education system starts with providing teachers with the proper education and tools to prepare students adequately.

He noted that the partnership is a huge step toward fulfilling the commission鈥檚 mandate to reposition the country鈥檚 education system in alignment with the future of work requirements.

He said: 鈥淭herefore, teacher鈥檚 education is one key area that the NSSEC will focus on, among other necessary initiatives, to help fulfil its mandate.

鈥淎s we work to raise a tech-savvy generation of students, we must also raise a generation of tech-savvy teachers. Coding should be part of the education curriculum, like other literacy and numeracy subjects. Coding is as much about creativity as it is about math, science, and problem-solving.鈥�

Also, Coderina BOT Chairman, Mr. Femi Niyi, explained: 鈥淚n response to the future of work, education must evolve to support teachers in developing individual student鈥檚 potential and preparing students to become lifelong learners so that they can innovate tomorrow鈥檚 world and solve real-life problems in their communities.

鈥淭he 51风流Africa Code week, the most extensive digital literacy on the continent of Africa, is designed to demystify coding and make it a learned skill for students. However, achieving this would require teacher training and transformation from traditional teaching styles to pedagogy that supports the acquisition of 21st century skills and competencies necessary in the 4IR.

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