But access alone is not enough. Before accessing structured training, exposure to technology was limited. Opportunities to engage with coding, data, or artificial intelligence in a practical way were not widely available, particularly for young women. Even after gaining skills, navigating the transition from learning to real-world application can still be challenging without clear pathways and support.
What determines whether current investments translate into meaningful impact is what comes next — the pathways that allow young people to apply what they learn, gain experience, and contribute to the sector.
My own experience in technology has made this clear. Through training in Artificial Intelligence and data, I developed the technical skills needed to understand how digital tools can be used to solve real problems. Working on projects related to maternal and child health, I saw how these skills could be applied to challenges that directly affect communities.
That experience changed how I think about technology. It is not only about understanding systems. It is about using those systems to respond to real needs.
Engaging with secondary school students through outreach initiatives introduced another dimension of this work. Many of these students were encountering coding and data for the first time. Their curiosity and willingness to learn highlighted the importance of early exposure, particularly for young women.
For many, that exposure is the starting point. Without clear pathways, however, it does not always lead to opportunity.
As Rwanda continues to invest in digital transformation, there is a need to strengthen the systems that connect learning to application. Young people need opportunities to gain practical experience, to work on real-world challenges, and to transition into employment and innovation spaces.
These pathways are particularly important for young women. While more women are entering technology through training programs, they remain underrepresented in the sector. Expanding access is one step. Ensuring that women are able to progress, remain in the field, and take on leadership roles requires continued, intentional effort.
This includes creating environments where young women can apply their skills, build confidence, and see clear opportunities for growth.
It also requires recognizing that young people are not only learners. They are contributors.
Across the country, young people are already applying their skills, sharing knowledge, and participating in shaping Rwanda’s digital future. Their ability to do so depends on the strength of the pathways available to them.
On International Girls in ICT Day, the focus should not only be on introducing more girls to technology.
It should also be on ensuring that those who enter the space have the support, opportunities, and pathways needed to grow within it.
Because when those pathways exist, access becomes meaningful.
And when access becomes meaningful, young people are able to contribute, innovate, and lead.
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