Women empowerment in the tech sector has received a timely boost at the inaugural Tech4Africa Internet and mobile technology conference following the unfortunate withdrawal of Wordpress founder Matt Mullenweg due to unforeseen circumstances.
“While it is regrettable that Matt is unable to be present as one of our original keynote speakers, we have been fortunate enough to secure a very exciting replacement in Leila Chirayath Janah, CEO of Samasource,” says Gareth Knight, MD of Technovated, the organisation behind the conference. “Leila is an example of how out-of-the-box thinking can, and is, revolutionising the approach to employment opportunities for marginalised people.

“Her presence will also highlight how global thinking, skills and experience can be applied to great effect in the African context, which is a key focus of the conference.”

Tech4Africa is the first conference on the continent to bring some of the world's leading Internet technology thought leaders and innovators together to share their expertise and experience with local developers, technologists, entrepreneurs and Internet-aware business executives. The conference is being hosted at The Forum in Bryanston, Johannesburg on 12 and 13 August 2010.

“The fact that we are celebrating Women's Month in South Africa makes her participation all the more fitting, and builds on the objective to promote women empowerment,” adds Knight.

Samasource is a unique concept in that it aims to create employment opportunities for women, youth and marginalised people through 'microwork', which consists of small tasks that can be performed anytime, anywhere. Importantly, it gives effect to the concept of a social business model based on crowdsourcing technology.
The project currently connects more than 800 women, youth, and refugees living in poverty by providing them with digital work, and has been successfully implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Ghana, and Pakistan.

“This ground-breaking initiative is particularly relevant in the African context, and we believe that Leila has tremendous value to add to the conference, especially on a socio-cultural level,” says Knight. “With Fast Company naming her as one the Most Innovative Women in Technology in 2010, she also has a very important message to share with this sector, and one we are proud to be bringing by way of the conference.”