Mariéme Jamme

Senegalese-British tech activist empowering African girls through coding education

Mariéme Jamme (b.1974) transformed from a child trafficking survivor into a leading advocate for STEM education in Africa. Her organization I Am the Code has trained over 1 million girls in 45 countries since 2017.

After escaping exploitation in France, Jamme taught herself programming and became a Microsoft-certified systems engineer. She launched initiatives like Africa Gathering to connect tech innovators globally. Her 2016 TED Talk exposed systemic educational gaps, prompting UNESCO partnerships.

In 2021, Jamme co-founded Spotlight Africa, an AI platform tracking SDG progress. Her work earned recognition as one of BBC's 100 Women. By focusing on algorithmic literacy and localized tech solutions, she challenges neo-colonial narratives in digital development.