Rahma Warsame

A Somali tech pioneer breaking barriers for women in STEM through education and mentorship initiatives.

Rahma Warsame is a groundbreaking technologist from Somalia who has become a leading advocate for women in technology across East Africa. Growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya, she taught herself coding using discarded textbooks, later earning a computer science degree from the University of Hargeisa. In 2020, she founded Tech Needs Girls, an organization providing free coding bootcamps and mentorship to young Somali women.

Her program has trained over 1,500 girls since 2021, with 70% securing tech-related jobs. In 2022, Warsame launched the first all-female tech hub in Mogadishu, offering workspace and resources to female entrepreneurs. Her TED Talk "Code Breaking: How Girls Are Hacking Gender Barriers" has become a rallying cry for education equity in conflict zones.

Warsame's 2023 collaboration with Microsoft's Airband Initiative brought internet access to 50 rural schools, enabling distance learning. She also co-authored the UN Women report "Digital Futures for African Girls", influencing policy reforms in 12 African nations. Recognized as one of Time Magazine's 2024 Next Generation Leaders, she continues to advocate for digital literacy as a human right through her podcast "Code & Courage" available on Spotify.