Roaa’s Journey

At just 15 years old, Roaa, from Aswan, is already rewriting what the future can look like for girls in Egypt. Her journey began at home, inspired by her aunt - a software engineer - who introduced her to the world of coding when she was only seven. With nothing more than curiosity, YouTube tutorials, and her aunt’s encouragement, Roaa discovered a passion for technology that would shape her dreams.

But it was through Dawwie Digital Literacy training, supported by partners like MetLife, that Roaa’s world truly expanded. The course opened her eyes to new possibilities within the tech field, sparking a question that changed everything: “Why not look for more opportunities to grow?” That question led her to apply for the Girls Make Grant, where she created an innovative project blending technology with origami art—a project that won first place in Aswan Governorate. 

Today, Roaa is unstoppable. She’s part of the Digital Cubs of Egypt scholarship, developing an app that promotes tourism by showcasing the top ten attractions in every governorate, complete with maps, images, and audio guides in Arabic and English. Her ambition doesn’t stop there - she’s already earned online certifications from Harvard, explored global scholarship opportunities, and even used AI tools to refine her CV for future applications.

Roaa’s dreams of studying engineering abroad and building a tech company - one that not only creates apps but also teaches children coding, empowering the next generation. She has launched a YouTube channel to teach programming and is advocating to deliver coding courses at Egypt’s Digital Library. Her vision is clear: “By 2030, coding will be the foundation of life. If girls don’t learn it now, they risk being left behind. Education is our strength - it gives us independence and dignity.”

Recently, Roaa and her teammates represented their school at the ISEF preliminary exhibition, earning recognition for their project and learning the power of teamwork and perseverance. For Roaa, this is not the end - it’s the beginning of a bigger journey fueled by determination and opportunity.

Her story is proof that investing in adolescent skills—especially for girls—creates ripple effects that transform lives, communities, and futures.