Lindiwe Matlali
Lindiwe Matlali is driven by the belief that no child should be left behind by the tech revolution. Her mission to bring science into children’s classrooms—underprivileged children especially, and girls in particular—led to her founding Africa Teen Geeks, a social enterprise that teaches children and unemployed youth how to code, exposes them to computer science, and inspires a future generation of technology entrepreneurs and innovators. Lindiwe has been distinguished with the 2019 Commonwealth Point of Light recognition awarded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Motsepe Foundation Shining Light award. She was also the first African to win the Digital Female Leader award by the German Global Digital Women 2019 network and was the MTN Women in ICT Community Builder Recognition Award winner in 2018. This resulted in her being selected to join the South African Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Lindiwe holds degrees and qualifications from the University of Cape Town, Stanford University, the University of Pretoria and Columbia University.
- Visit their website
- Africa Teen Geeks
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- Model
- Non-profit Social Enterprise
- Headquarters
- South Africa
- Areas of Impact
- Middle East & North Africa, Africa, South Africa, South Africa
Africa Teen Geeks
Founded in 2014, Africa Teen Geeks is one of Africa’s largest computer science NGOs, impacting over 600,000 children 10,000 teachers and recruiting 2000 volunteers. The organization plugs a vital gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in South Africa where only 5% of South African schools are adequately prepared to teach these crucial subjects.
Africa Teen Geeks makes use of an artificial intelligence-based learning platform MsZora, developed for STEM subjects and easily accessible to students regardless of their socio-economic circumstances. The platform provides relevant and curriculum-focused information that complements teacher intervention and provides students with a personalized tutor inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, the Girl Geek Program trains young girls to be future women in STEM and a teacher training program is run in collaboration with the Department of Education (DoE). In 2019, Africa Teen Geeks signed an agreement with the DoE to develop and implement a coding and robotics curriculum for students from Grade R to Grade 9. Africa Teen Geeks also runs classes in partnership with the University of South Africa.
awardees
Our awardees
André L. Cavalcanti de Albuquerque
Shona McDonald
