codeHive is the AkiraChix signature program. It is a one-year fully subsidized residential hands-on technical training program. It provides education and economic opportunity to young women between 18 and 24 years from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who have completed high school education, unable to further their education due to financial constraints.
In 2022 we intend to recruit highly motivated young women from across Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda’s underserved communities. And offer market-ready technology, life skills and leadership training.
Our students in the codeHive program also receive mentorship from global names in technology and business and go on a three-month work experience. They also get to attend and network at leading technology conferences and workshops.
As part of the program, we also push our students to not only learn but innovate. As part of graduation, students are all required to produce market-ready prototype solutions. We also support our students to find a work placement in the technology industry and offer them 6-month additional support as a career launchpad, post-graduation.
Applications are now closed
Applicants must have:
- Completed High School no later than 2019
- Possess a High School result slip/ transcript/ Photo or your results sent via SMS
- Be a young African woman aged 19-24 years on January 2022
- Fluent in spoken and written English
- Be a resident of Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda or refugee communities in Kenya
- Have a passport, National ID, Alien ID or Refugee certificate of your respective country of origin
- Interested in technology or its use in bringing change to communities
- Available full-time from February 1, to December 1, 2022, and willing to live on the AkiraChix campus, in Nairobi, Kenya throughout the program
- Be a changemaker and committed to service in your community
- Demonstrate leadership i.e. be able to demonstrate your involvement in leadership activities in your community i.e at school, church/mosque/ temple etc
All young women admitted to the codeHive program receive full financial assistance of US $ 4,000 per student. This cost covers:
- One year tuition-free, accommodation, extracurricular activities, meals, transportation, and personal amenities,
- Access to healthcare during emergencies,
- Access to technology hubs and maker spaces in Nairobi for tech events and prototyping respectively,
- Access to a selected pool of mentors for guidance on careers and personal growth,
- Access to conditional 6-month incubation after the one-year codeHive program. This is to support graduates to find and secure employment.
At AkiraChix we believe for any young woman to impact her community and succeed individually is based on your relationship with others. At AkiraChix sisterhood is the heart of what we do. We sum it up in the phrase, #IAMAKIRACHIX. We believe by opening yourself up to new friendships which challenge and support your growth it accelerates your personal development and the collective development of your peers. As part of the codeHive program, we heavily constitute group projects, mentorship and tech-community meetups as part of our DNA. With this vast interaction and collective growth, we build a steady community of intelligent, innovative, inspiring and impactful young women.
Meet Our Instructors
James Mwai
CTO, SkyGarden
John Owuor
Senior Developer, Twiga Foods
Veronica Thamaini
Senior Program Officer, Wikimedia Foundation
Joy Wambui
User Experience Researcher, Antara Health
Rodgers Owoko
Career Coach
Barre Yassin
Project Manager - Kenya, Field Ready
James Mwai
CTO, SkyGarden
John Owuor
Senior Developer, Twiga Foods
Veronica Thamaini
Senior Program Officer, Wikimedia Foundation
Joy Wambui
User Experience Researcher, Antara Health
Rodgers Owoko
Career Coach
Barre Yassin
Project Manager - Kenya, Field Ready
Become a codeHive Mentor
Calling all female mentors eager to pay it forward and inspire the next generation of female tech talent!
Click below to read more about our mentorship.