Computer Science Academy Africa (CSA Africa) is hosting its 2022 Python programming workshop aimed at training and mentoring young Africans in STEM, to help them bridge the opportunity gap that limits their potential in computing fields. Since 2018, we have empowered 350 young Africans in STEM with computer programming skills, and with your donations, we believe we can make more impact this year.

Our 2022 workshop

The workshop will run for three weeks between 18 July - 05 August 2022 at the NitHub, University of Lagos, Nigeria, training up to 250 beneficiaries and 40 volunteers from within Africa. Our programme will: equip our beneficiaries with the foundational programming skills that they need to enhance their studies, research, and professional career; train our volunteers on how to run similar workshops in their communities; and help them develop the confidence to pursue and thrive in a computing related career. CSA Africa 2022 is in partnership with the School of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow and the NitHub, University of Lagos, Nigeria. You can find out more on our 2022 workshop webpage.

About CSA Africa

CSA Africa is an educational initiative empowering young Africans in STEM, whose talents and prospects are constrained by their backgrounds, to be the next generation of computer programming leaders. Founded in 2018 by Dr. Sofiat Olaosebikan, and formerly Programming Workshop for Scientists in Africa (PWSAfrica), CSA Africa has delivered computer programming workshops in Nigeria, Rwanda, and online. This initiative provides young Africans in STEM with access to quality computer science education, as well as a role-model in our founder who inspires and motivates them. Our first workshop was inspired by the fascinating journey of our founder into computer science after scaling through the obstacles occasioned by her limited exposure to opportunities. CSA Africa was born out of a strong desire to give back to the community by supporting other young Africans in STEM and showing them what is possible.

our story

Our founder, Dr. Sofiat obtained a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. During her studies, she had no one to direct or mentor her about her potential and career prospects in computing. By sheer determination, she enrolled in a three-week Python programming course during her MSc at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Ghana. This steered her career and led to her receiving a University of Glasgow scholarship to study for a Ph.D. in Computing Science. Dr. Sofiat founded CSA Africa while undergoing her PhD, with the support of the University of Glasgow.

Now, CSA Africa is working towards closing the gap between opportunity and talent for young Africans in STEM by providing them with access to quality computer science education. In recognition of the transformational change engineered by this initiative, Dr. Sofiat Olaosebikan has received several recognition including, the Future World Changer Award at the University of Glasgow.

Our Beneficiaries

Our beneficiaries are young Africans in STEM who do not have access to the same opportunity available to students in advanced countries and who are lacking the basic computing skills needed to realise their potential.

This consists predominantly of undergraduates and postgraduates in STEM with little to no programming experience who are passionate about problem-solving and programming.  We work with beneficiaries who require computer programming skills in their studies, researchers who require these skills to enhance their research, and postgraduates who need programming skills to give their careers a boost.

Where will the money go?

We aim to:

• Provide lunch for 250 young Africans in STEM expected to attend this workshop.
• Pay for the travel for participants attending from outside the host city (Lagos).
• Provide childcare support to participants and volunteers with childcare responsibilities.
• Provide workshop merchandise e.g., notebooks, pens, t-shirts, lanyards, etc.
• Generate electricity using solar panels and/or generators.

Rewards

We have some fantastic rewards available for our donors - you can find these listed to the side of this page.

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Testimonials

“Before the workshop, I had zero knowledge of programming. The workshop opened my eyes to the world of programming... Recently I decided to pursue a career in data science and realised python is an essential tool in the field. I have been able to build on the knowledge I gained from this workshop. I am delighted that I had the opportunity to attend PWSAfrica 2018!”

Chidubem Maryjane Ezeokoli, from Nigeria, participated in the PWSA 2018 workshop.

“Specifically, participating in a Python programming workshop prepared by PWSAfrica helped me to start my journey of becoming a developer by broadening my programming skills... After the workshop, I continued the progress by taking other online courses to support what I have acquired so far in the workshop and later I started freelancing which eventually helped me to land a job at XRFoundation, but the whole journey started at the PWSAfrica workshop...”

Irankunda Fabrice, from Rwanda, participated in the PWSA 2019 workshop.

“I acquired programming in python skills and I am now using it to teach my students on how to code using python”

Maniru Malami Umar, from Nigeria, participated in the PWSA 2021 workshop.

“With all the pressures that exist today in university life to bring in research grants and to teach increasingly larger numbers of students, it is absolutely fantastic when a few people do something different and challenge preconceptions and go out and do something that I think is important.”

Professor Chris Johnson, Former Head of School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow.