African Girls Code

You're invited to the Youth Expo 2025 taking place at Safe Hub Jabulani in Soweto!

Join us for an exciting day of innovation, creativity, and opportunity with workshops, talks, exhibitions, esports tournaments, and more. Whether you're a student, job seeker, young entrepreneur, or just passionate about the digital future, this event is for you. Don’t miss out on connecting with industry experts, exploring career paths, and being part of a youth-led movement shaping South Africa’s tomorrow.

📅 16 - 20 June 2025
🕘 10am - 3pm

See you there!

GirllHype Joins the Global Cisco Networking Academy to Empower the Next Generation of Tech Leaders

April 27, 2025 — Cape Town, South Africa

hashtag , South Africa’s leading force in hashtag for underserved youth, proudly announces its official designation as a CISCO Networking Academy. This milestone marks a powerful expansion of GirlHype’s mission to equip girls and young women—especially from rural and township communities—with world-class technical skills that open pathways to high-demand careers in the digital economy.

The CISCO Networking Academy is one of the world's longest-running and largest education programs, having trained over 20 million learners globally in networking, cybersecurity, programming, and digital transformation. Through this new partnership, GirlHype will offer internationally recognized certifications and professional development courses, preparing a new generation of tech-savvy leaders for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

"Becoming a CISCO Networking Academy is more than an achievement—it’s a promise to our communities," says Thoko Miya, CEO of GirlHype. "We are committed to ensuring that every young woman who dreams of a career in tech has the skills, support, and global recognition needed to thrive. This partnership accelerates that vision, giving our students access to top-tier content, tools, and opportunities that are truly life-changing."

Through the Academy, GirlHype will deliver a variety of specialized programs including:

- Networking Essentials and CCNA Certification Training
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals and CyberOps Certification Preparation
- Python Programming and IoT (Internet of Things) Fundamentals
- Entrepreneurship and Digital Business Skills

Students will benefit from a blended learning approach combining instructor-led classes, hands-on labs, and online modules, enabling flexible access to training aligned with global industry standards. Additionally, GirlHype will leverage CISCO’s career resources and mentorship networks to support graduates in securing internships, job placements, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

GirlHype’s first CISCO Academy cohorts are set to begin in May 2025, with a special focus on recruiting young women from rural provinces and township-based schools. Scholarships, sponsorships, and enterprise incubation opportunities will also be made available for top-performing students.

About GirlHype
GirlHype is a pioneering nonprofit-turned-institute championing digital inclusion, hashtag , and entrepreneurship for girls and young women in South Africa. Since its founding, GirlHype has empowered over 1 million youth through coding, AI literacy, and business innovation programs in partnership with major hashtag .

About hashtag
Since 1997, CISCO Networking Academy has been delivering transformative education programs that empower people worldwide.

Cape Town Arts Festival powered by Ariva Arts Foundation in partnership with African Girls Code funded by Business Arts South Africa (BASA) Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) CYCLE 1 and Department of Sports and Art and Culture (DSAC) is calling all art–based creatives to apply for a 3-month intensive training program in low code full stack software development boot camp (UI design, Data architecture, and backend logic practical approach) from 1st of October 2023 – 31st January 2024.

The training is part of Cape Town Arts Festival's EMPLOI (Education Mentorship Programmes for Leadership Ownership and Innovation) to develop and empower local artists, especially after the devastating effects of COVID-19 on creatives.

ELIGIBILITY
• You must be an unemployed art-based creative.
• Participants must be matric and computer literate.
• Working age (18 – 35 years) can participate. Preference will be given to the youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
• Participants must have an original ID and/or original refugee status documentation.
• Participants must have a local bank account, in their name, and will produce all relevant account details on the day they sign the contract.
• The Participant cannot be concurrently enrolled in any other public employment program such as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), the community work program, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, or the Youth Service.
• People receiving a full disability grant or NSFAS are NOT eligible.

Interested people must send their bios, CV, and profiles to [email protected]