Post #3: Student Field Visit
Learn about Apps and Girls, and the Social Sector Franchise Accelerator in our Get To Know Us post, here!
Hi! I’m Gina Occhipinti, a senior at the University of New Hampshire, and Student Research Fellow following and facilitating the Social Sector Franchise Initiative protege, Apps and Girls. For much of my time at UNH I’ve heard about social franchising, even met a few entrepreneurs involved in it, but it wasn’t until my travel to Tanzania during January break (J-term) to research Apps and Girls as a social franchise that I would be immersed in it. An organization devoted to teaching girls programming and entrepreneurship would be my perfect setting, given my experience in UNH’s Entrepreneurship Club and teaching myself coding. I was excited to see how they were working in this East African context, making a difference in the lives of young girls.
On the streets of Dar es Salaam, I saw a clear lack of resources. This left me wondering how Apps and Girls could be still thriving. There was an organized chaos to the busy streets, and a bustle you don’t find in the States — people sitting around street corners, taking a rest from the hot sun, and talking with one another. I stayed in the city center at the Urban Rose Hotel, in a neighborhood where I was surprised to find a heavy Indian influence. In the first few days, I Uber’d around, visited the National Museum, got to drive by the beach, and saw where expats and diplomats live.
When I finally got into the thick of the research, I saw what Apps and Girls has to work with. They have little resources — the power goes out often in their HQ office, the paint on the walls is chipped, and some of the chairs are broken. A single light bulb hangs from the ceiling, providing a light source. It’s about an hour from the city center and tough to find. I totally see now why Carolyne wants a more accessible office space.
On my first day in Dar, I met with Carolyne to plan the agenda. For the next few days, I met and interviewed several intelligent and driven young girls. They told me how they used to be shy, but are now so confident because of Apps and Girls. I listened about their dreams of studying abroad, how they enjoy sharing their skills with the newer members. Usually it was the case that their parents had some background in IT, and it led them to join the coding clubs. I was surprised to hear how some didn’t actually have ambitions in tech, but instead wanted to be doctors or surgeons. Despite their different goals, they felt learning this technology gave them a career edge, that it gave them a chance for personal development or increased their chances of getting into university. I learned about the skepticism of their parents on the value of Apps and Girls at first, but once they saw how the program was positively changing their daughters, they supported it.
They spoke not so much of an Apps and Girls program, but of a family, where they learn in an atmosphere where they are encouraged to speak up and be themselves. One of the girls I interviewed even started a company with her twin sister called Aurateen, an online platform to educate teenagers about sexual reproductive health. With the help of Apps and Girls’, they’ve been able to code their platform, turn it into a company, and even employ other people. I had the chance to interview the Apps and Girls operations team as well, especially Wilhelm, who happens to be Carolyne’s husband! He’s been with her in this mission to narrow the gender gap in tech in the Tanzanian community since the beginning. I was also surprised to hear about how one day they want to eventually teach boys, to give everyone access to coding.
This J-Term travel research experience opened my eyes even wider to the connectedness of the world, the way that others live in conditions worse than my own, but how the people turn it into something powerful that they can share with their communities and lift up those around them, like the girls in Apps and Girls are doing through code. While Apps and Girls isn’t as matured as a franchise, I saw how they are able to give the girls opportunities through education to get better jobs, even create jobs, and improve their communities. This impact is valuable, and I see and hope it will be shared in many other cities around the world.
Read about our next mentoring call here!
