The annual RoboGirl program, courtesy of Lenovo South Africa and Durban University of Technology (DUT), recently celebrated its third edition. RoboGirl took place over a day, gathering 85 girls from 17 schools across KwaZulu and introducing them to various science and technology concepts. The event took place on 2 December 2024, and the girls received hands-on training in coding, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
RoboGirl turns three
RoboGirl is an annual day-long workshop that brings together girls from underprivileged backgrounds and exposes them to innovative science and technology. The program aims to increase women’s participation in STEM and has already impacted hundreds, while also helping 29 past participants pursue tertiary studies in fields like medicine, information technology, teaching, and business.
This year’s RoboGirl participants received a basic run-through of robotics, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, while also being “tasked with designing and developing their own IoT solutions,” says General Lenovo South Africa’s CSI Champion Jane Govindsamy.
Bottom row: Werner Schoeman, Dr Tlou Maggie Masenya, and Professor Matthys Swanepoel
DUT’s Information Technology Head of Department Dr Tlou Maggie Masenya believes in the program’s impact, stating, “Through this program, we have actively contributed to addressing South Africa’s skills shortage in critical sectors, while nurturing the next generation of innovators who are pivotal to driving digital transformation forward.”
RoboGirl highlights the potential impact of collaborations between state and private actors to positively affect socioeconomic issues, of which South Africa has plenty. Winners of the RoboGirl competition received prizes, mentorship, and development opportunities.
