For All Women and Girls – Pendo Vestine on Closing the Gender Gap in Tech

Rwandan tech advocate Pendo Vestine is at the forefront of the movement to close the gender gap in STEM. An alumna of the UN Women-led African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI)—a programme also supported by the International Telecommunication Union and the African Union—she represents a new generation of African women using tech for change. AGCCI has equipped over 1,600 girls in 11 African countries with coding and digital skills.

Raised in Gatsibo, eastern Rwanda, where girls’ education was often undervalued, Vestine saw first-hand how gender norms held many girls back. Now studying software engineering at the African Leadership University (ALU) herself, she’s working to reverse this narrative. Vestine has founded HerTek, a platform offering online tech courses, mentorship, and industry linkages for girls and young women.

Vestine credits initiatives like AGCCI and SieMentEmpowHer for giving her the skills and confidence to pursue tech leadership. Through HerTek, she is helping girls build not just skills but also self-belief. The platform has also created more opportunities for these girls to explore and better themselves.

She also highlights ongoing challenges: gender bias, lack of female role models in tech, and financial barriers to education. However, she still believes change is possible, particularly with targeted support for rural communities where progress has been slow.

Inspired by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, Vestine calls for continued efforts toward gender equality in STEM. “When a girl is given the right opportunities,” she says, “she can transform her future and uplift her community.” This brings to mind the famous quote that says, “If you educate a boy, you educate an individual, but if you educate a girl, you educate a nation.’

“My dream is for a world where every girl has access to quality education, equal opportunities, and the freedom to pursue her dreams without limitations. A future where women lead in technology, innovation and decision-making.” – Pendo Vestine

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