Hawa Sow

A Tunisian social entrepreneur empowering marginalized women and youth through technology education and economic initiatives.

Hawa Sow is a Tunisian social entrepreneur and founder of 'Women in Tech Tunisia', an NGO dedicated to bridging the gender gap in STEM fields. Post the 2011 Arab Spring, she identified technology access as a key tool for economic inclusion, particularly for rural and low-income women. Her organization provides free coding workshops, entrepreneurship training, and mentorship programs, directly impacting over 5,000 individuals by 2019. Sow’s 'Tech for Change' initiative partners with companies like 'Microsoft' to offer scholarships for women pursuing tech careers. She pioneered Tunisia’s first all-female hackathon in 2016, fostering solutions for local challenges like water scarcity. Sow’s advocacy extends to policy: she advised the Tunisian government on integrating digital literacy into school curricula. Her 2018 TEDx talk 'Code for Equality' highlighted how technology can dismantle systemic barriers. Beyond Tunisia, she launched 'AfricaDev', a pan-African network connecting women tech entrepreneurs. Sow’s work has reduced unemployment rates among her trainees by 60%, according to a 2020 UNDP report. Despite societal pushback, she remains a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in tech spaces. Her legacy includes the 'Hawa Sow Foundation', which funds scholarships for Tunisian girls. Sow’s influence is recognized globally, with features in 'Forbes Africa' and 'NPR', solidifying her as a pioneer in North African social innovation.