At just a teenager, Camille Ananyi is not waiting for the future—she’s creating it. Born in Nigeria and raised between Lagos and California’s Silicon Valley, Camille has lived at the intersection of two dynamic worlds. She recalls her childhood in Lagos filled with curiosity and ambition, but lacking role models in tech who looked like her.
That changed one summer when she joined a beginner Scratch coding class at CoCreation Hub in Yaba. That small experience sparked a lifelong mission.
Now a student at the prestigious Menlo School in the heart of Silicon Valley, Camille has launched SPARK Tech Africa—a platform designed to Support Passionate Africans through Relationships, Knowledge, and Tech.
SPARK is not just another youth tech initiative. It’s a bold movement built from Camille’s own story: a girl once searching for a mentor who’s now creating a global support system so others never have to search alone.
“SPARK is how I pay forward the guidance I was lucky to receive,” Camille says. “I’ve learned from brilliant mentors at Stanford and Berkeley and through programs like MAGIC. But I always remember where I started—and the thousands of girls still waiting for a start.”
A Purpose-Driven Platform
SPARK Tech Africa is focused on connecting African teenage girls to elite tech mentors—from Silicon Valley to Nairobi—and helping them grow the skills and confidence to lead in tech.
The online platform offers:
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Learn Page: Beginner-friendly coding lessons and project guides
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Matching Page: Smart AI that pairs mentees with mentors aligned to their goals
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Women’s Stories: Video interviews with successful women in tech
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Progress Page: A personalized tracker for mentees’ weekly wins and challenges
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Final Showcase: A digital gallery of top projects—winners earn a place at a Silicon Valley summer camp
Bridging Lagos and Silicon Valley
Each SPARK cycle runs from December to April, ending with an exclusive two-week Silicon Valley summer camp for the most promising mentees. At the camp, girls pitch their innovations, visit major tech companies, and connect with global leaders—turning ambition into access.
The first SPARK cohort has already ignited widespread enthusiasm, and applications for the 2025–2026 cycle are officially open. Camille’s goal? To empower 10,000 African girls over the next five years with the skills and support to shape the future.
“Tech is the tool, but mentorship is the fuel,” Camille says. “If one girl can go from Scratch in Yaba to coding at Berkeley, imagine what a whole generation can do when they’re connected.”
Get Involved
SPARK Tech Africa is actively seeking teen girls across Africa ready to learn, and mentors worldwide ready to guide them. This is more than coding—it’s a movement of connection, confidence, and global impact.
