Written by WIIT committee members, Ashleigh Mabaire & Denise Mukozho
Youth Month is a time to reflect on the power of young voices – and this year, it’s all about action.
June is Youth Month, and this year we’re not just celebrating – we’re revolutionising. The theme? “Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.”
Translation: The future is ours to code, create, and conquer.
The World Changed. Did You Notice?
While you were perfecting your TikTok algorithm, the workplace transformed completely. Remote teams span continents, AI handles routine tasks, and digital skills determine who gets hired. But here’s the plot twist, we’re not catching up to change, we ARE the change.
As young women entering the tech space, we’re not just participants; we’re the architects of tomorrow’s digital landscape.
Your Skills Toolkit: Level Up Edition
Digital Fluency (Beyond Social Media)
Master cloud platforms, dabble in Python or JavaScript, and understand data visualisation. When everyone else is still figuring out Zoom, you’ll be building the next big app.
Quick Win: Spend 15 minutes daily on Codecademy or Khan Academy. Small steps, massive impact.
Communication That Commands Respect
In tech, your code might be brilliant, but can you explain it to your grandmother? Clear communication breaks barriers and builds careers.
Pro Tip: Practice the “elevator pitch” for your ideas. You never know who’s listening.
Emotional Intelligence: Your Secret Weapon
While AI handles calculations, humans handle relationships. In male-dominated spaces, emotional intelligence becomes your superpower with the ability to read rooms, build alliances, and lead with empathy.
Critical Thinking: Question Everything
Don’t just solve problems, identify the problems others miss. Why do most apps ignore accessibility? Why aren’t there more women in cybersecurity? Ask these questions, then build the solutions.
Adaptability: Your Competitive Edge
The technology you learn today might be outdated in three years. But your ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn? That’s timeless.
Reality Check: The average person changes careers 5-7 times. Adaptability isn’t optional, it’s survival.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Think Like a Founder
Spot gaps in the market. See problems as opportunities. Whether you’re building the next fintech startup or improving processes at your job, think ownership, not employment.
Your Action Plan Starts Now
This Week:
- Download one coding app and complete your first lesson
- Join one tech community
- Follow three inspiring women in technology on LinkedIn
This Month:
- Attend a virtual tech meetup
- Start a simple project (even a personal website counts)
- Connect with a mentor in your field of interest
This Year:
- Complete an online certification
- Apply for internships or entry-level positions
- Build something that solves a real problem
The Real Talk
As young women in South Africa’s tech landscape, we face unique challenges. The statistics aren’t always in our favour, and impostor syndrome hits harder when you’re often the only woman in the room. But here’s what they don’t tell you in those statistics, we’re not just breaking barriers, we’re demolishing them.
Every line of code you write, every problem you solve, every room you enter changes the narrative for the women who come after you.
Your Moment is Now
This Youth Month, we’re not asking for seats at the table, we’re building our own tables. The skills you develop today become the solutions that tomorrow desperately needs.
The changing world isn’t something that’s happening to us. We’re the ones changing it.
💡 Want to be part of a network that supports your growth in tech? Join the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) and connect with the Women in IT (WIIT) Chapter – a space where your ideas, skills, and leadership matter.
So, what will you build first?
Ready to start your tech journey? The future is coding your name on it.