Creating space for young women to lead in tech.
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
From where I come from, nothing beats leadership that recognises and values the impact employees make in delivering quality work, especially when that work serves communities. Tangible Africa embodies this kind of leadership culture. It is an organisation that nurtures talent, acknowledges dedication and empowers its team members to thrive. As a result, it continues to produce remarkable individuals who shine not only as colleagues, but as passionate contributors to meaningful change.
In this issue, we spotlight one such individual, Sisikelelwe Mtambeka, from Tangible Africa. Through her work, she is opening doors for learners from disadvantaged communities, introducing them to the power of problem-solving and basic coding skills while inspiring a new generation to see opportunity within the world of technology.
Humble, passionate and deeply committed to youth development, Sisikelelwe’s journey into the technology and education space is as inspiring as the impact she is making today. Originally from Cofimvaba in the former Transkei, she grew up across several towns in the Eastern Cape as her family moved for work. From Grahamstown, where she attended primary school, to Queenstown, where she completed her high school education, her upbringing exposed her to diverse communities and challenges, experiences that would later shape her desire to make a meaningful difference in education.
After matric, Sisikelelwe pursued Civil Engineering at Buffalo City College, drawn to the field by her natural love for problem-solving and the encouragement of her family. She spent six years working in the construction industry, where each day on site demanded resilience, quick thinking and the ability to navigate complex challenges.
But life had other plans. At a crossroads in her career, Sisikelelwe came across an internship opportunity through The Learning Trust to facilitate block-based coding sessions in schools as part of Tangible Africa’s programmes. What initially seemed like a new and unfamiliar opportunity quickly turned into a powerful calling.
“Once I received the training, I immediately connected with the mission,” she recalls. “Having experienced my own struggles within the schooling system, I realised how transformative early exposure to structured problem-solving could have been.”
Today, Sisikelelwe serves as Tangible Africa’s Regional Coordinator for the Nelson Mandela Bay region, where she oversees programmes that introduce coding and computational thinking to schools through simple, hands-on tools. Unlike many traditional coding programmes that rely on expensive technology, Tangible Africa’s approach allows teachers and learners to develop essential coding skills using accessible materials that work within existing school resources.
Her workweek reflects the dynamic nature of the role. Mondays and Fridays are typically dedicated to coordination, logistics and project management. Midweek, however, she can often be found in classrooms across the metro working alongside a team of 30 interns from The Learning Trust, supported by Master Trainer Rethabile Mgidlana and Programmes Administrator Sibongile Sangqu.
One of the flagship initiatives Sisikelelwe leads is the Mandela Bay 100 project, which focuses on building computational thinking and problem-solving skills among learners. Teachers from participating schools receive training and Tangible coding kits, after which learners take part in structured six-session coding clubs.
The programme targets Grade 7 learners in primary schools and Grade 9 learners in high schools, with a broader objective of building confidence in mathematics and encouraging learners to choose Pure Mathematics instead of Mathematical Literacy.
“For South Africa to thrive, we need more problem-solvers,” Sisikelelwe explains. “Building confidence in mathematics and logical thinking is one of the ways we can get there.”
A key part of her work also involves empowering young women to see themselves in the technology space. Representation plays a powerful role in shaping ambition, and when girls see women leading in technology and innovation, the possibility of pursuing those paths becomes more tangible.
The last week of April provided a powerful example of that vision in action. In that week, Sisikelelwe and her team organised a girls’ coding tournament in Gqeberha, bringing together 288 girls from 35 schools in an exciting display of collaboration, creativity and problem-solving.
According to Sisikelelwe, the remarkable turnout can be directly linked to the success of the Mandela Bay 100 project, which has been running six-session coding clubs in schools across the metro.
“The response from learners has been incredible,” she says. “The more exposure they receive, the more confident they become in their ability to solve complex problems.”
With momentum continuing to build, Sisikelelwe is already looking ahead to the next major event on the calendar #Coding4Mandela in July, where she expects even more learners and teams to participate.
For her, the mission extends far beyond teaching coding. It is about unlocking potential, nurturing confidence and showing young people, particularly girls from disadvantaged communities, that they too can become innovators, problem-solvers and future leaders in the digital world.
For more, visit: Tangible
Comments