“When we started, we were not sure what we were going to do. And since then life hasn’t been the same. It’s been four weeks, but for some of us, it’s like forever,” stated Caroline Akoth, a beneficiary of the ENGAGE Project, as we marked the graduation of our first cohort. This momentous occasion took place on August 30, 2024, during a hybrid graduation ceremony hosted by Kabarak University, celebrating the achievements of 90 young women who completed a 20-day residential training program in data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
The ENGAGE Project brought together young women pursuing diplomas in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and undergraduates in Universities to be trained in six universities across Kenya, including Kabarak University, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, alongside Pwani University, South Eastern University, and Meru University of Science and Technology. This collaborative effort aims to empower young women and strengthen the pipeline of data scientists while closing the gender gap in this critical field.
The graduation ceremony was graced by notable guests, including Prof. Margaret Jesang’ Hutchinson, the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, and Prof. Henry Kiplagat, the Vice Chancellor of Kabarak University. In his keynote address, Prof. Kiplangat emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities in the digital era, urging the graduates to utilize their expertise to develop innovative solutions that will shape the future of healthcare and beyond. Following the conferment of certificates by the regional university vice-chancellors, the graduates were commissioned for internships at various institutions.
These internships will provide practical experience, allowing them to apply the skills they acquired during their training. Prof. Hutchinson challenged the graduates to embrace these opportunities and contribute meaningfully by being problem-solving-oriented, particularly through artificial intelligence.
This graduation marks a significant milestone for the ENGAGE Project, the first targeting young women in Kenya. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID), the Data Analytics and Scientific Computing Lab (DASCLAB), the University of California San Francisco(UCSF), and six universities across Kenya.
As these young women embark on their internships, they carry with them not only the skills they have learned but also the confidence to tackle real-world challenges in data science and public health. The ENGAGE Project is committed to fostering gender equality and leadership in STEM fields, paving the way for a brighter future in data science and healthcare.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Cohort one of the ENGAGE Project training beneficiaries! Your journey is just beginning, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact you will make in your communities and beyond.
