Voices of codeHER: Rising Beyond Barriers

Monique (DRC), Manar (Palestine), Rana and Maheder (Ethiopia), and Emma (USA)

At codeHER, we believe that stories are the seeds of transformation. When girls and women share where they come from - the battles they’ve fought, the barriers they’ve broken - we don’t just witness their strength. We build a new world from it.

This month, we are proud to feature the voices of five incredible women from across the globe - from war-torn towns and underserved clinics to university classrooms and tech hubs - all united by one mission: to empower, uplift, and rewrite the future.

🇨🇩 Monique Kabanza - Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

“Even speaking about justice or protection is considered dangerous. But I believe in a world where every woman, every girl - especially those with disabilities - can live with peace, dignity, and power.”

Monique Kabanza was born and raised in Goma, a region in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that has endured decades of instability since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Violence, fear, and political uncertainty were the backdrop of her childhood - but so was resilience.

Her journey began in healthcare, where she worked as an orthopedic technician supporting war survivors. But what struck her most was the number of women and girls with disabilities who had also survived sexual violence. Their stories moved her deeply - and inspired her mission to fight for justice and reparations, even in a system where armed groups act with impunity and advocacy is dangerous.

Today, Monique serves as the Executive Secretary of the Observatory for the Defense of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ODDPH), where she leads efforts to advance national disability rights legislation and support victims in the most difficult circumstances imaginable. She also engages in peacebuilding work across the region, often at personal risk.

Her dream? To see girls in North Kivu go to school without fear. To see survivors of sexual violence treated with dignity. And to see justice prevail where silence once ruled. Through codeHER, Monique mentors girls in digital inclusion, reproductive health, and leadership - using technology as a tool for healing, advocacy, and power.

🇵🇸 Manar Shawahni - Jenin, Palestine

“I want to help more girls see themselves as future leaders in tech - even when the world around them says otherwise.”

Manar Shawahni is a 23-year-old computer engineer from Jenin, Palestine - a place where daily life is shaped by checkpoints, conflict, and uncertainty. But in the midst of that reality, Manar has built something powerful: community.

Over the past few years, she’s volunteered at hackathons, hosted STEM workshops, and created spaces where young girls can ask questions, experiment with code, and imagine futures beyond the walls around them. She knows firsthand how hard it is to step into male-dominated tech spaces when few around you look like you, or share your experience. That’s why she’s committed to changing that reality.

Manar believes in visibility - not just in representation, but in action. Her work is about lighting a path for the next generation of Palestinian girls to feel seen, supported, and capable of leading innovation. Through codeHER, she’s connected with a global network of women who fuel that mission.

She dreams of a world where a girl in Jenin doesn’t have to choose between safety and opportunity - where she can build, lead, and thrive on her own terms. For Manar, codeHER isn’t just a platform. It’s a promise.

🇪🇹 Rana Kemal - Ethiopia 

“When a girl is empowered, she doesn’t just change her life - she changes the future.”

Rana Kemal didn’t grow up surrounded by screens. Her first real encounter with computers came in university - long after many of her classmates had mastered phones, coding platforms, and digital tools in high school. That gap was intimidating. But Rana turned it into her motivation.

Instead of seeing herself as “behind,” she embraced technology with a sense of purpose. Her learning was intentional, grounded in curiosity, and free from noise. And it lit a fire.

She quickly realized how few girls in her community ever even get that chance - especially in rural Ethiopia, where access, resources, and cultural norms keep girls out of STEM. That’s why, as a codeHER Ambassador, Rana is launching a summer drive to provide educational materials and tech tools to girls in underserved communities. Exercise books today. Gadgets and mentorship tomorrow.

Her long-term goal is nothing short of revolutionary: to see girls across Ethiopia introduced to technology in their teenage years - not just for scrolling, but for coding, dreaming, and building. She wants AI and emerging tech to reflect women’s voices, shaped by those who understand the needs of the world’s most excluded.

Rana is proof that starting late doesn’t mean dreaming small. With codeHER, she’s helping to code confidence into every girl’s journey.

🇪🇹 Dr. Maheder Gared - Bahir Dar & Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“When a woman is given the chance to lead, she transforms not only her life - but the lives around her.”

Born in Bahir Dar and now working in Addis Ababa, Dr. Maheder Gared is a Doctor of Dental Medicine with a fierce commitment to justice, community, and access to healthcare. As the first doctor in her family, Maheder carries a weight of responsibility - and wears it with pride.

She’s volunteered with the GIV Society to offer free dental services to underserved communities and supports continuing education efforts through the Ethiopian Dental Practitioners Association. But her work extends far beyond the clinic.

Having witnessed the barriers girls in her community face - from early marriage to educational exclusion - Maheder dreams of a future where girls are leaders in both health and tech. Through codeHER, she’s mentoring young women, building leadership spaces, and fostering confidence in girls who too often go unseen.

For Maheder, codeHER is more than a program. It’s a sisterhood. A space where young women across continents are connected by their dreams - and committed to making them real.

🇺🇸 Emma Herrera - United States

“The women who empowered me were once empowered by other women. I want to be part of continuing that chain.”

Emma Herrera is a senior studying Business Management and Marketing, and the current President of her university’s Business Student Council. But beyond the titles and achievements, Emma is a believer - in community, in mentorship, and in the power of women uplifting each other.

Growing up surrounded by strong female role models, Emma learned early on that support is cyclical: empowered women empower women. Now she’s doing her part to keep that cycle alive.

From organizing professional development opportunities to leading creative marketing projects, Emma thrives in environments where collaboration and leadership meet. Through codeHER, she’s expanding her impact - helping to build a world where young women in business feel seen, heard, and equipped to lead.

Emma’s story is a testament to how local action can create global ripples. One workshop, one mentor, one story at a time.

🌍 Why These Stories Matter

Each of these women comes from a different part of the world - but their struggles, hopes, and dreams echo the same truth: when women are given the tools to lead, they change everything.

At codeHER, we’re proud to be a global family that centers girls’ voices, invests in their growth, and dares to dream alongside them.

💬 Want to share your story?

We want to hear from you.

👉 Email info@codehergirls.org with your story and photo. Help us build this movement - one voice, one girl, one future at a time.