Draft:Carolyne Ekyarisiima

Carolyne Ekyarisiima, born on June 20, 1986, is a social entrepreneur, Computer Scientist and a business woman with significant contributions to the fields of information and communication technology (ICT), agriculture, and education. She is renowned for co-founding Apps and Girls, a non-governmental organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in science through innovative IT initiatives. Apps and Girls, the organization she co-founded, uniquely combines computer programming training with community and tech entrepreneurship. Through this initiative, girls are equipped to develop projects that benefit their communities while also learning to start businesses. This dual approach aims to increase employment opportunities and reduce poverty, fostering social-economic growth.

Since 2011, Carolyne's efforts have helped bridge the gender gap in the tech industry, promoting greater female participation in science and technology. Her work has not only provided young women with critical skills but also inspired a new generation of tech entrepreneurs dedicated to making impactful changes in their community and beyond.

Early Life
She was born on June 20, 1986, in Bushenyi District of Uganda, into a family of seven children, where she was the fifth cFrom a young age, she aspired to become a doctor to help treat people. However, due to economic challenges and the need to support the education of her siblings, this dream could not be realized. Her father, a primary school teacher, and her mother, a housewife, prioritized the education of all children despite the financial constrains,t ensuring they attained higher levels of learning.

Although pursuing a career in medicine was too costly, she had the opportunity to study computer science at Kampala International University in Uganda, which marked the beginning of her new perspective on the world. In one of her interviews, she says, " During my time at KIU as a computer Science student, I developed a passion for a course that was completely new to me. I decided to take it because it was related to science, and my dream of becoming a doctor seemed nearly impossible. As delved into the course, my interest in technology grew stronger. I sensed that this would be an exciting journey, and it truly has been ."

In addition to being tutorial assistant, Carolyne dedicated her private time in 2010 to participating in the establishment of OUFLab, one of the first private tech hub in Tanzania. In 2013, OUFLab was renamed to NLab (NiwezesheLab) and later evolved into an IT academy offering diplomas under The National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET).

Her involvement included organizing free and open seminars in schools and colleges, and establishing the "Code Overnight" program. This program brought together students from Various universities every Friday evening in Gongo La Mboto, Dar es salaam, to learn coding until Saturday morning before returning home.

The OUFLab team initiated a fundraising campaign in 2012 to create an open space for tech enthusiasts in Tanzania. They used the Indiegogo platform, with Carolyne, Wilhelm, and lead fundraiser Zoe from the US playing significant roles. Through this campaign, Carolyne noticed the underrepresentation of women in technology and science.

In 2013, Carolyne participated in a bootcamp, where events like bootcamps and hackathons fueled her passion for technology. She competed in various competitions and hackathons, winning some organized by TANZICT, COSTECH and other stakeholders. One of the notable challenge she won with her team was Masoko Challenge, where the solution they created focused on digital agricultural solutions to provide farmers with timely market prices across Tanzania and reliable market channels. Inspired by these experiences, Carolyne decided to mentor and coach girls in coding and entrepreneurship to create young role models who would inspire more girls and women.

Education and early Career
Carolyne completed her O-Level education at Bweranyangi Girls Senior Secondary School and her A-Level education at Valley College Senior Secondary school in Uganda. She then persuaded a degree in Computer science at Kampala International University in Uganda. After graduating, she was hired by the university (Kampala International University) and was transferred to Tanzania. There she had the opportunity to continue her studies, earning a master's degree in Information Systems from the Kampala International University, Dar es salaam branch.

At the university, she worked as a database administrator and a tutorial assistant from 2009 to 2012. After her masters degree, she worked full-time as an assistant lecturer in the ICT department, and in early 2014, she left her job and co-founded Apps and Girls, NLab Innovation Academy as well as other tech startups.

In 2014, after leaving her job at the university, Carolyne began dedicating herself full-time to Apps and girls. She worked as a founder and a Chief Executive Officer of the organization. The program was initially launched by establishing coding clubs in nine public secondary schools across Dar es salaam. Carolyne has achieved remarkable success, particularly in mentoring young girls like Modesta Joseph. , who founded the online platform "Our Cries" or "OVAH". Modesta is one of the many young women who have made significant contribution to their communities early on. Through her institution, Ohah, she developed a digital system to assist students facing harassment, aiming to reduce such incidents in public transportation, especially in "daladala". Other notable beneficiaries of this project include Winnie Msamba, Asha Abbas , Fatuma Abbas , Necta Richald , Julieth Sewava , Hyasinta Luhanga , Balbina Gulam , Queen Mtega and Lisa Jones. These coding clubs, established throughout Tanzania in collaboration with Tigo and other stakeholders, have successfully helped over 100,000 youth by 2023, with 60 percent of them choosing to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) studies.

The year 2017, Carolyne was selected as a collaborator with the Obama Foundation, recognizing her exception work with Apps and Girls, a program dedicated to empowering young women through technology and coding education. Working alongside Barack Obama and Michele Obama and other global leaders like Prince Harry, Aliko Dangote and other global changemakers, Carolyne contributed her expertise to inspire and empower communities on a large scale

In 2020, Carolyne and the team initiated a program called Jovia with the aim of empowering girls who were unable to complete their education due to financial difficulties or pregnancy. The program name is named after Carolyne's mother, Jovia, who had aspired to pursue further studies but was unable to do so because of financial constraints; instead, she became a businesswoman, selling farm produce like bananas.

Carolyne also served as a judge during the 2017 First Global challenge in Washington DC, USA. She has been working as a mentor at First Global Robotics competition for team Tanzania and Team Uganda.

Business
She is a businesswoman, her entrepreneurial ventures extend into various fields, including agriculture and finance, where she is actively working as Managing Director of Wris Group of Companies, proving microfinance to SME's under Wris Microfinance and Food Processing and mixed farming majoring in goats, sheep ranching, and sunflower farming and processing. All these are done under her new venture, Wris, which she co-founded.

Publications, Lectures and Open Discussion

 * 1) E-Learning Africa conference 2017 in Mauritius
 * 2) E-Learning Africa conference 2018 in Rwanda

Interviews and Documentaries

 * 1) Carolyne has been featured in  26 short interview videos by Career girls, where she shares her insights as a role model to young girls, striving to ignite their passion for technology.
 * 2) In the documentary "Girls Like Us" Carolyne took center stage as role model for Winnie Msamba, who expressed her passion for technology, her ambitious dreams, and the inspiration she drew from Carolyne.

Awards and Nominations

 * 1) Tigo Digital Changemakers Award - 2017 (Won)
 * 2) Malkia wa Nguvu  (2017) By Clouds Media Group (Won)
 * 3) The next generation of Leaders (2017) By  IFA FOUNDATION
 * 4) Innovator of the Year Award By Aid & International Development Forum (Won)
 * 5) 35 Most Influential Women in Tech  By CIO Africa (Mention)
 * 6) Digital Female Leader Awards (2019),  Social Hero By Der DFLA  (Won)
 * 7) 50 Most influential Young Tanzanians  (2019) By Avance Media (Mention)
 * 8) Social Inclusion Award (2019) By Women in Tech - Apps and Girls
 * 9) WSIS Prize (2020) Champion in Capacity Building By ITU - Apps and Girls
 * 10) Ist runners up for the ATU Africa Innovation Challenge (2021) By Africa Telecommunication Union and ITU - Apps and girls
 * 11) Overall winner of the ICT awards (2021) By the Tanzania ICT Commission  - Apps and Girls
 * 12) Best ICT Incubator of the year (2021) By the Tanzania ICT commission - Apps and Girls
 * 13) Global Winner in E-Employment (2023) By WSIS - Apps and Girls
 * 14) Entrepreneurship Education Program Award (2023) By ASEB UNSUNG HERO - Apps and Girls