The year 2019 ended with a staggering unemployment rate of 29.1%, with unemployment being higher among women than men. The situation is expected to deteriorate further, given the spread of COVID-19. The impact can already be seen on job searchers, though search engine Adzuna which shows a 7.3% reduction in job postings. In March, part-time and gig vacancies increased globally by 22.1% due to COVID-related restrictions. Employers now seek flexibility in response to changing demands during this period. These current events further increase the necessity for skill development.
With this in mind, Synthesis Software Technologies has partnered with GirlCode, a registered NPO aimed at empowering young girls and women through technology. “This is the time to uplift, upskill and create opportunities, especially for women who have traditionally been excluded from the IT Sector. It is also the time to utilise technology to make a tangible impact. There was no better stage to take on this partnership”, says Kim Furman from Synthesis.
GirlCode aims to alleviate the current rise in unemployment through targeted skills and job placement initiatives for young girls and women. They do this through coding and robotics clubs in primary and high schools, workshops, vacation work and hackathons for post matric students. “The world is changing at a rapid pace and our current education system is simply not able to keep up. The reality is that universities are lacking behind in terms of the curriculum offering for comprehensive programming skills. We need to be able to equip future job seekers with the necessary skills to be able to fully participate in the economy and take advantage of the rising opportunities in the tech space “, says Zandile Mkwanazi , Chairwoman of GirlCode. “Education and skill acquisition are important determinants of job and income prospects. Demand for talent with technical skills has grown exponentially, however, companies are struggling to find qualified workers with programming skills, especially female talent. The increasing demand for workers who can write code is opening up job opportunities at a faster rate than the universities can supply. Young people need to be equipped with the necessary skills to meet the labor market demands ”. And that is precisely why GirlCode exists.
Synthesis has partnered as a gold sponsor and hackathon partner to help drive GirlCode’s initiatives. “As a digital company that focuses on Employment Equity, we are in a position to continue with business as usual even if it is unusual during the Coronavirus. Partnering with GirlCode ensures young girls and women have the same opportunity that we currently have, an ability to work from anywhere, a sense of continuity. In addition to this, women being involved in technology will give them the required opportunities and it will allow for diversity of thought which leads to superior technology”, concludes Furman.
ENDS
For more information on the innovative work Synthesis has done for its blue-chip clients, contact:
Kim Furman
Marketing Manager
072 236 3572
About GirlCode
GirlCode is a community of women who truly care about the prospects of technology in Africa. We care about best practices, innovation, learning, sharing, and above all we care about improving our skills and the lives of those we teach. Our Vision is to create a network of women who are highly skilled and will contribute towards an inclusive and innovative technology industry.
About Synthesis
Synthesis is a true South African success story. Synthesis believes that providing innovative solutions based on emerging technologies will help their clients become globally competitive. Synthesis focuses on banking and financial institutions, retail, media and telecommunications sectors in South Africa and other emerging markets.
In 2017 Capital Appreciation Limited, a JSE-listed Fintech company, acquired 100 percent of Synthesis. Following the acquisition, Synthesis remains an independent operating entity within the Capital Appreciation Group providing Cloud, Digital and RegTech services as well as corporate learning solutions through the Synthesis Academy.
