Brand Story
GirlCode is a registered South African non-profit organisation (NPO 158-642) founded in 2014 as a women-only hackathon to address inequality and the gender gap in the technology sector.
Headquartered in Midrand, Gauteng, GirlCode has evolved into an educational institution and social enterprise that engages women in tech through training, mentorship and community programmes.
The organisation runs initiatives in primary and high schools, tertiary institutions and communities, teaching coding, digital skills and tech-related careers to girls and young women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
GirlCode’s work is driven by the belief that coding is not only the future – it can be “their future” – and that increasing female participation in tech is critical for economic growth and innovation.
Why It Exists
GirlCode exists to empower girls and women across Africa with technology skills, confidence and opportunities to participate fully in the digital economy.
The organisation was created to respond to the chronic shortage of skills and the under-representation of women in technology roles, which limits both individual potential and business growth.
Through partnerships with corporates, government and tech companies, GirlCode provides training, mentorship and pathways into tech careers for thousands of women and girls each year.
To close the gender gap in technology by empowering 10 million women and girls with tech skills by 2030, enabling them to build careers, start businesses and shape the future of the continent.
Founder & Key People
GirlCode Founders & Leadership
Founding TeamGirlCode was founded in 2014 by a group of women in tech who launched the first women-only hackathon in South Africa to address gender inequality in the sector.
Key leaders include Zandile Mkwanazi, Founder and CEO, who has empowered over 80,000 girls and women in the past decade, and Tinyiko Simbine, Co-Founder and CFO, who helps drive strategy and expansion.
The leadership team partners with organisations such as AWS, Takealot, Deloitte and others to scale training programmes and create pathways from learning to employment and entrepreneurship.
Achievements & Recognition
GirlCode has earned recognition for its contribution to technology education, gender equality and youth empowerment in South Africa and across Africa.
2024 Top NPO & Charities Brand
GirlCode was recognised as the Top NPO & Charities Brand at the 2024 Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards.
100,000+ Women Empowered
The organisation has already empowered over 100,000 women and girls with tech skills and has set an audacious goal to reach 10 million by 2030 through expansion across Africa.
What They Do
GirlCode runs coding bootcamps, school programmes, cloud and digital skills training, hackathons and mentorship initiatives aimed at girls and women from diverse backgrounds.