From Where I Stand. I am living proof that education is a game changer

Martha Pulumuka is a teacher at a secondary school located in remote Mpilisi in Balaka district located in southeastern Malawi. She facilitates coding and ICT lessons in one of the newly established eLearning hubs, created by UN Women, under the Malawi Girls Can Code Initiative which is funded by the Government of Ireland.

“The Malawi Girls Can Code eLearning Hub is transforming the way our students in Mpilisi, especially girls, engage with technology. Once hesitant to use ICT tools, girls now confidently navigate the digital world, breaking free from the old habit of letting boys take the lead. This newfound tech-savviness ensures that our girls are on par with their urban peers.

At our school, while boys outnumber girls, most girls steer clear of science, believing it’s too tough and reserved for males. Malawi Girls Can Code is challenging these outdated ideas, proving that science and technology are for everyone.

In Mpilisi, early marriage often discourages girls from valuing education, but I’m living proof that it doesn’t have to be this way. My love for mathematics led me from Mpilisi where I grew up to graduating with distinction from university. Now, I’m back, committed to inspiring girls to defy expectations, break barriers and embrace science and technology.”

The Malawi Girls Can Code (MGCC2) project, funded by the Irish Embassy and implemented in collaboration with UN Women, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Gender, aims to close the gender digital divide in Malawi. The project’s goal is to economically empower girls and young women through enhanced digital access and technology adoption. The initiative aims to reach over 5,000 girls and boys aged 14-18 and 2,500 young women aged 19-25, providing them with critical skills and opportunities to thrive in the digital economy. The project offers a unique platform for girls to gain valuable knowledge in entrepreneurship, coding, gender, and digital literacy. MGCC is designed to inspire participants to pursue careers as ICT professionals, innovators, or entrepreneurs, thereby equipping them for various economic opportunities and pathways.