Commitment to Digital Inclusion
Global technology brand HONOR demonstrated its commitment to digital inclusion and community empowerment through the Code with HONOR event. HONOR hosted the event at its Johannesburg offices to celebrate International Girls in ICT Day on April 24, 2025. Stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society gathered to inspire and empower young girls to pursue careers in technology.
Event Highlights
The event brought together 40 girls from schools across Johannesburg. They engaged in hands-on exposure to emerging technologies and received mentorship from industry leaders. The theme, Code with HONOR, reflects the company’s values of inclusiveness and giving back to the community.
Celebrating young women in ICT with HONOR
Fred Zhou, HONOR Electronics South Africa CEO, shared: “We don’t want to be a company that only sells products. We aim to act as the bridge that connects communities, contributing positively by empowering societies, especially underrepresented groups. Supporting young girls in ICT is part of our commitment to help shape a more inclusive future.” He also highlighted that the ICT industry remains largely male-dominated, but HONOR recognizes that females can play an equally important role. He noted that women and girls bring unique perspectives and ideas that men might never have. Zhou urged girls to be confident, bold, and expressive in technology-related fields. Events like Girls in ICT build this confidence and encourage participation Read more HERE
Inspirational Women in Tech
Several powerful women in tech shared their career journeys and advice with the girls:
- Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani, Director-General, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT)
- Hellen Mabore Mogashoa, Corporate & Government Affairs Lead, Microsoft South Africa
- Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO, Association of Communications and Technology (ACT)
- Karabo Mohale, Executive Deputy Chairperson, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
Community Support and Future Plans
As part of the Code with HONOR launch, HONOR donated digital equipment and devices to the Community Technology Center in Johannesburg. This enables the center to expand training programs for underserved communities. HONOR plans to broaden its community engagement initiatives to encourage more girls to pursue Science, Technology ,Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and tech-oriented careers. The company hopes other organizations will join these efforts to close the digital divide and help young women in SMEs for the future as well.
