Country of Residence
Nigeria
Age
19
Project title
She Can Innovate: Empowering Girls Through AI and Digital Creativity
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
HER Digital Future: Empowering Girls Through Technology HER Digital Future is a community-based initiative under HER Impact Initiative designed to empower girls and young people in underserved communities, starting with Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, by providing access to practical digital skills training. I believe that talent exists everywhere, but opportunities do not. Many young people, particularly girls in underserved communities, have limited access to digital education.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
https://www.facebook.com/61594262327486/posts/122109483363475410/?substory_index=1067149959533320&app=fbl
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Pilot-Stage (We’ve tried an activity or two)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
My inspiration for starting HER Digital Future came from realizing that many talented young people, especially girls in underserved communities like Samaru, have limited access to practical digital skills and opportunities to explore technology. As a cybersecurity student, I have seen how technology is transforming the world, and I believe every young person deserves the opportunity to be part of that transformation. My “aha!” moment was realizing that while technology is creating new opportunities every day, many young people around me risk being left behind simply because they lack access to the right knowledge, training, and guidance. I began asking myself: What if we could bring these opportunities closer to them instead of waiting for them to find their way into the technology world? That question inspired me to take action through HER Impact Initiative. I wanted to create an opportunity for young people, particularly girls, to learn practical skills in artificial intelligence, graphic design, and digital technology in an environment where they feel supported and encouraged. I believe change does not always begin with a big budget or a perfect plan. Sometimes, it begins with recognizing a problem in your own community and deciding to do something about it. Through HER Digital Future, I hope to help young people discover their potential, build confidence and impact
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
In Samaru, many girls and young people have limited access to practical digital skills training, particularly in artificial intelligence, graphic design, and other technology-related fields. Although these skills are increasingly important for education, employment, and entrepreneurship, many young people lack affordable training opportunities, access to digital learning resources, and mentors who can guide them. As a result, talented girls may miss opportunities to develop digital skills, explore technology careers, and use their creativity to solve community problems. Without early exposure and practical guidance, they risk being excluded from opportunities in the growing digital economy. This problem matters to me because I believe that where a girl comes from should not determine what she can achieve. As a cybersecurity student, I understand how valuable digital knowledge can be in creating opportunities and building a better future. Through HER Digital Future, under HER Impact Initiative, I want to address this gap by providing accessible, hands-on digital skills training that helps girls build confidence, develop practical abilities, and discover new possibilities in technology and entrepreneurship.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
Through HER Digital Future, an initiative under HER Impact Initiative, I aim to address the digital skills gap among girls and young people in Samaru, Zaria, by providing accessible, hands-on training in artificial intelligence (AI), graphic design, and responsible digital technology use. The project will begin with a community-based training session for a manageable number of participants, allowing us to focus on practical learning rather than just theory. Participants will be introduced to beginner-friendly digital tools and taught how to use them to create designs, explore AI applications, generate ideas, and solve simple real-life problems. Instead of simply listening to presentations, participants will complete practical exercises and create their own digital outputs. They will learn how these skills can support their education, help them communicate ideas, and open pathways to entrepreneurship and future careers. The training will also encourage responsible technology use, creativity, collaboration, and confidence, particularly among girls who may have had limited opportunities to explore digital fields. To make the project accessible, we plan to work within the Samaru community and collaborate with volunteers and potential partners who can contribute knowledge, resources, and mentorship. The initial training will help us understand participants' needs, assess their progress, and identify areas for improvement before expanding the initiative. Our approach is designed to create impact beyond a single training session. Participants will be encouraged to practise what they learn, share useful knowledge with their peers, and explore further learning opportunities. We also intend to gather feedback and assess participants' practical work to measure.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
HER Digital Future is currently in its early stages, and I am preparing to launch its first hands-on digital skills training in Samaru, Zaria. Although we have not yet conducted the training, I am committed to addressing the limited access to practical digital education among girls and young people in my community. My initial goal is to reach 20 young people, prioritising girls and those with limited access to digital learning opportunities. Through practical training in artificial intelligence, graphic design, and responsible digital technology use, I hope to help participants develop useful skills, build confidence, and discover new educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. I plan to measure our impact by tracking participation, assessing the digital projects participants create, and gathering feedback on their learning experiences. I also hope to encourage participants to share their knowledge with others, extending the benefits beyond the initial group. I believe this project can make a difference because it brings relevant digital learning closer to the community and focuses on practical skills that young people can apply in their daily lives. My long-term vision is to expand HER Digital Future to reach more underserved young people and help them become confident technology users, creative problem-solvers, and active contributors to Nigeria's digital future.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
The innovation of HER Digital Future lies in bringing practical, beginner-friendly digital skills training directly to underserved girls and young people in Samaru, Zaria. Rather than teaching technology as theory alone, the project will combine hands-on learning in artificial intelligence, graphic design, and responsible digital technology use, enabling participants to create digital projects and apply their skills to real-life challenges. What makes the approach distinctive is its focus on girls who may have limited access to technology education, mentorship, and digital opportunities. Participants will be encouraged to learn by creating, collaborate with their peers, and share their knowledge with others, helping the impact extend beyond the initial training. The project will use accessible digital tools and locally relevant activities to reduce barriers to participation. By starting small, gathering feedback, and improving the training based on participants' needs, HER Digital Future aims to develop a practical and replicable model for digital inclusion that can reach more underserved communities over time.
How many people are on your team?
10
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
I lead HER Digital Future under HER Impact Initiative, overseeing project planning, coordination, and community engagement. Our volunteers support participant mobilisation, training preparation, outreach, and logistics. We assign responsibilities based on individual skills and interests. To ensure accountability, we set clear tasks and deadlines, hold regular team meetings, monitor progress, and encourage members to provide updates on their responsibilities. I promote open communication, shared
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next three months, my priority is to successfully launch HER Digital Future under HER Impact Initiative by organising our first hands-on digital skills training in Samaru, Zaria. I will work with our volunteers to mobilise participants, particularly girls and young people with limited access to digital learning opportunities, secure a suitable training venue, identify accessible digital tools, and organise the training in artificial intelligence, graphic design, and responsible technology use. After the training, we will collect participants’ feedback, assess the digital projects they create, and review what worked well and what needs improvement. We will also document our activities and results to measure progress, maintain transparency, and build evidence of our impact. Over the next six to twelve months, I plan to strengthen our volunteer team, seek partnerships with schools, community leaders, technology professionals, and organisations that support girls’ education and digital inclusion. I will also explore opportunities for mentorship, donated digital devices, internet access, training resources, and funding to make the programme more accessible. My goal is to build a sustainable model that can reach more young people in Samaru and eventually expand to other underserved communities. I also want to encourage participants to practise.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
Over the next three months, my priority is to successfully launch HER Digital Future under HER Impact Initiative by organising our first hands-on digital skills training Samaru, Zaria. I will work with volunteers to mobilise participants, particularly girls and young people with limited access to digital learning opportunities, secure a suitable training venue, identify accessible digital tools, and organise the training in artificial intelligence, graphic design, and responsible technology use. After the training, we will collect participants’ feedback, assess the digital projects they create, and review what worked well and what needs improvement. We will also document our activities and results to measure progress, maintain transparency, and build evidence of our impact. Over the next six to twelve months, I plan to strengthen our volunteer team, seek partnerships with schools, community leaders, technology professionals, and organisations that support girls’ education and digital inclusion. I will also explore opportunities for mentorship, donated digital devices, internet access, training resources, and funding to make the programme more accessible. My goal is to build a sustainable model that can reach more young people in Samaru and eventually expand to other underserved communities. I also want to encourage participants to practise their skills.
