Xaviera Kowo and the Endless Possibilities of Technology

Even after a complete year of writing about incredible women of all ages improving the world with technology, I still continue to be amazed at just how endless the possibilities of technology are, and I am consistently in awe of the achievements of each woman I read and write about. Around the world, there are innumerable amount of problems to solve and people to help, but the good thing is that the amount of creativity and ingenuity in the world is immeasurable, too.

"JFD launched the 1st edition of les Margaret Junior Awards, which are aimed at young European and African girls between the ages of 7 and 18, who innovate, and have the spirit of entrepreneurship… the future generation that will change the world" - JFD website.

This brings us to the focus of this week's blog post Xaviera Kowo from Cameroon. At only 18 years of age, Xaviera Kowo has utilized technology to better her community and, in turn, the world. She was named the first Margaret Prize Winner in the Junior Africa category by JFD on March 8 of 2021.

"Our ambition is to demystify tech studies and digital professions. Making innovation accessible to a greater number of people means bringing out a new generation of leaders" - JFD website.

Xaviera Kowo embodies what it means to be a part of this new generation of female entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders. The project that got her the award was a waste treatment robot that she created and programmed. The waste treatment robot is able to quickly collect and transport debris to a proper disposable area, such as a garbage can or recycling center. However, she is not stopping there. As a part of the award, she has gained support to continue her project and, not only improve the robot, but expand its reach around her city, country, and eventually even more. Additionally, she will be able to continue to study computer engineering at her university.

Xaviera Kowo's story highlights that it is never too early to make a change for the better in this world. I cannot wait to see what more she is able to accomplish in the future!