Empowering Women
through Digital Skills

Our Web Fundamentals Program is a 12 weeks, in person intensive designed to give you the essential skills you need to grow in software development. During the program, you’ll learn and master Figma, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript/Node.js, giving you the confidence to build modern, responsive, and high performing applications. By the end of the program, success looks like being comfortable with core development tools, completing real projects, and building a strong foundation that prepares you for more advanced software development programs.

SheCanCODE, under Igire Rwanda Organization (IRO), presents the Java Backend Associate Program, an intensive 8-week hybrid learning experience designed for young women who already have a strong foundation in Java and want to advance toward mid-level backend engineering roles. Delivered under the Digital Skills for Employability (DSE) initiative, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and Digital Opportunity Trust, this program focuses on real-world software engineering practices through hands-on projects, industry-standard tools, and advanced backend development. Participants will deepen their understanding of enterprise Java development, modern software architecture, testing strategies, cloud-native development, microservices, DevOps practices, system performance optimization, and secure application development. Sessions combine in-person and remote learning, with in-person classes held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Participants are expected to fully commit, actively collaborate, and build production-ready solutions throughout the program. <p class="mt-4"> For more information about the Digital Skills for Employability initiative, please visit the <a href="https://rwanda.dotrust.org/digital-skills-for-employability-to-equip-10000-young-people-in-rwanda-with-digital-and-entrepreneurial-skills-to-secure-dignified-and-fulfilling-livelihoods-in-the-digital-economy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#F97316; text-decoration:underline;"> DSE Program </a>. </p>

Hackathon starts with an idea, but not just any idea. One that solves a real problem or spotting that untapped opportunity in your communities. One that creates impact <p class="mt-4">The DSE Social Entrepreneurship Hackathon, presenting the opportunity for DSE Program Participants under SheCanCODE cohort (13 - 14 - 15) to turn their technical skills into viable, socially impactful ventures and the rewards match the ambition 🔥🔥🔥</p> <p class="mt-4 text-2xl font-bold text-green-900">The prizes:</p> <ul class="mt-2 list-disc list-inside space-y-1"> <li>1st place wins $5,000</li> <li>2nd Place $4,000</li> <li>3rd place $3,000</li> <li>4th place $2,500</li> <li>5th Place $1,500</li> </ul> <p class="mt-4">And the other 10 teams that participated will each receive $50. <br> Marking 15 teams that will participate in the Hackathon and every team with (2–4 members).</p> <p class="mt-6 text-2xl font-bold text-green-900">Below is the stages to win prizes:</p> <p class="mt-4 text-1xl font-bold text-green-900">First Stage</p> <p class="mt-2">From now on, form your team (2–4 members), explore real challenges in sectors like health, agriculture, tourism, business, etc….. and submit your idea on 22 April 2026.</p> <p class="mt-2">Here's the Criteria of submission</p> <ol class="mt-2 list-decimal list-inside space-y-1"> <li>Problem Statement</li> <li>Proposed Solution</li> <li>Key Features</li> <li>Value Proposition</li> <li>Business Model</li> <li>Social Impact</li> <li>MVP</li> </ol> <p class="mt-4 text-1xl font-bold text-green-900">Second Stage</p> <p class="mt-2">On 23rd of April you will come for an info-session and selection of the best teams.</p> <p class="mt-4 text-1xl font-bold text-green-900">Third Stage</p> <p class="mt-2">You will keep working on your projects, give it your all to get them ready to receive feedback from the business coaches.</p> <p class="mt-4 text-1xl font-bold text-green-900">Fourth Stage</p> <p class="mt-2">Each team will choose 2 members to present them in a 3 day bootcamp.</p> <p class="mt-4 text-1xl font-bold text-green-900">Fifth Stage</p> <p class="mt-2">From May 8–11, you'll enter a 3-day bootcamp where your idea is refined, shaping your business model, validating your solution, and strengthening your pitch with guidance from business coaches. Every day after receiving feedback from business coaches you work on the feedback they gave you, to be better prepared to meet the business coach the next day.</p> <p class="mt-2">After that, you'll keep working on the prototype, test, and improve.</p> <p class="mt-4 text-1xl font-bold text-green-900">Sixth Stage</p> <p class="mt-2">On May 15, you pitch your solution.</p> <p class="mt-4 text-1xl font-bold text-green-900">Seventh Stage</p> <p class="mt-2">Around the end of May, winning teams are awarded and promising ideas move forward with mentorship and support.</p> <p class="mt-6 text-2xl font-bold text-green-900">Are you ready to compete?</p> <p class="mt-2">Here's the tip… The faster your team moves, the closer you are to winning. Form early. Think deeply. Build quickly. Get to adapt constantly to every stage.</p> <p class="mt-4">Because of this hackathon, it's a platform for teams to create innovative, tech-driven solutions with real social impact, backed up financially and a step toward building something that lasts.</p>