In 2017, we shared a story about Charity Samba, a then-16-year-old high school computer coding and programming enthusiast. Five years later, she is now a Computer Instructor at inABLE and embodies hard work and hope. We choose to shine a light on her this International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” and Charity’s consistency shows us how we can all achieve this vision.

Despite her low vision, Charity, 20, strives to make websites accessible and empower others through assistive technology computer skills. Charity was born with albinism that affects her vision, making her partially blind (she can see up to one meter). As a Computer Instructor passionate about coding, she is fluent in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS Cascade. She actively seeks learning opportunities to master more programming languages so that she can consult for companies that want to make their websites and digital services, and products accessible to all.

Charity began coding in high school, where she attended computer lessons at the inABLE Computer-Labs-for-the-Blind program. She joined inABLE as an Intern after graduating high school and has since risen the ranks. At just 20 years of age, she is one of the three women coders and computer instructors at the inABLE’s Computer-Labs-for-the-Blind in Likoni School for the Blind in Mombasa County. 

She is also a website developer and is making accessible websites that can be easily used by the blind and visually impaired. She says she even makes the images “visible” to the blind. 

We can’t wait to see where Charity will be five years from now. Her journey has been a joy to watch as she follows her passion for computers and coding, exceeding expectations at a young age. Happy International Women’s Day, Charity; keep inspiring more young women like you!

Written by: Joanne Ndirangu, inABLE Communications Team