Five girls from Kenya are in a contest to win a $15,000 prize for developing an application to fight Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which is common in parts of the country despite being illegal.
The girls between the age range of 15 – 17 years, will be the only Africans at the Technovation event to be held at the headquarters of Google in California, the United States.
Their app is called the I-cut, and its main aim is to put an end to female genital mutilation. I-cut presents a total assistance mechanism to girls at risk of FGM. It also connects victims with rescue centers and gives legal and medical help to those who have been cut.
The international Technovation contest is a platform where girls develop mobile apps to end problems facing their communities. it is sponsored by Google, Verizon, and the United Nations.
Aside from promoting tech innovation among girls, it aims to teach girls the skills they need to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders.
The five girls from Kenya’s western city of Kisumu call themselves the ‘Restorers’ because they want to restore hope to hopeless girls.
Kenya is becoming one of the most technologically advanced countries in Africa and deserves an accolade.