The CyberGirls Fellowship, an initiative by Cybersafe Foundation, confronts Africa’s cybersecurity gender disparity. While women represent half of Africa’s population, they account for a mere 9% of its cybersecurity workforce. The fellowship aims to change this by empowering young African women aged 18–28 with cybersecurity skills and thereby promote socioeconomic growth. The fellowship programme is built on three pillars – training, mentorship and placement – and provides a cutting-edge training curriculum that is updated annually to meet industry demands. This curriculum offers free, high-quality cybersecurity education that combines technical and soft skills over an eightmonth period. Additionally, a global mentorship pillar features a five-to-one ratio of female mentors to fellows, enhancing support and representation. The initiative’s placement arm then assists fellows in securing their first cybersecurity roles, ensuring a smooth transition from learning to employment. Beyond technical training, the programme employs mindset-shifting tools, such as the CyberGirls mantra consisting of affirmations and positive selftalk, to overcome stereotypes and boost confidence among fellows. CyberGirls alumni, spread across 22 countries, often see their income increase by more than 400% within six months of landing a cybersecurity role after completing the programme.