Ruth Kaveke, the Co-Founder and Executive Director is our next STEM WOW.
Ruth is actively involved in STEM projects in Mombasa, such as ‘Mombasa Girls in STEM’ and was featured by The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in one of their #eskills4girls videos.
Ruth in the interview to Nsesa Foundation, spoke of her passion for computers since high school.
Shocked by the low percentage of women in technology and her desire to be a role model to others, she was challenged to remain in technology “to inspire more ladies join STEM”.
Speaking about her greatest achievement, Ruth mentioned Pwani Teknowgalz; the not-for-profit organisation she co-founded with Aisha Abdulqadir in Mombasa, Kenya saying, “Many ladies have benefited from the organisation.
“For example, some ladies are able to earn money by creating websites while some of the ladies I have mentored are able to pass on the skills to other girls who are also passionate about technology.”
Ruth also touched on the challenges she has faced as a woman in STEM; “Once, while working as an intern, my supervisor doubted my website development skills. I overcame this challenge by confidently assuring my supervisor that I would prove my skills.
“At the end of the internship, I had done an awesome job with the client projects that I was working on.
“I have also experienced the challenge of having to encourage girls in high school to involve in technology programs such as Technovation, at some point some group of girls had planned to dropout on technology program I was involved as the lead coach.
“It took me a few days to convince them the benefit of embracing technology and what other girls of their age had achieved this assisted in having them back.”
Ruth, in ending the interview, encouraged budding women in STEM to look up to the women in STEM field creating ‘amazing products’: “Don’t be afraid to reach out to them; they are always ready to assist. Reach out to me if you need technology mentorship on twitter @kavekeruth.”
Ruth is currently working to establish the first Girl Technology Hub in Mombasa, to empower girls from underprivileged backgrounds with computer programming skills and is a TechWomen 2017 emerging leader, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
About STEM WOW
STEM WOW is a project by Nsesa Foundation to tell the stories of young inspirational African women on the continent and in the diaspora who are rocking it in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
By: ClaraDoku/techvoiceafrica.com
