Empowering the Next Generation of Tech Talent with TechWays

Joanne Brink, founder and CEO of TechWays, has always believed in the power of education to unlock opportunity. In 2015, Joanne founded a maths and science tutoring company, working with middle-income schools. While the appetite for extra maths support was mixed, a pilot C# programming course was a breakthrough success, highlighting just how eager parents and students were for tech skills that could open doors in the future job market. 

At the same time, Joanne noticed another gap: even well-resourced schools were struggling to keep pace with the rapid changes in the tech industry. Many educators didn’t feel confident teaching emerging technologies, and students were missing out. 

This is the gap TechWays was established to fill: helping schools bring a wide range of future-ready tech skills to their learners, even if their teachers have limited IT experience. 

Building a Pipeline of Tech Skills and Opportunity 

TechWays was officially registered in 2021 and began operating in 2022. What started as a small pilot has quickly evolved into a broader mission to support South African schools in delivering tech education that is practical, engaging, and aligned with the real-world skills young people need to succeed. 

South Africa faces a stark paradox: a 60% youth unemployment rate, yet a significant shortage of local tech talent, leading companies to outsource thousands of digital jobs abroad. TechWays is working to change that. 

Through e-learning courses designed for students in Grades 7–9 (and older), TechWays offers a digital-first approach for learners to develop fundamental tech skills at their own pace. Each course is structured around building a tangible project, from mobile apps and websites to games, providing students with both practical experience and a tangible showcase. 

TechWays is helping build a new pipeline of skilled young South Africans ready to thrive in the digital economy by sparking interest in emerging tech fields and making them accessible inside the classroom.

Watch the video to learn more about TechWays' work.

🌐 Click through to view TechWays’ website: www.techways.online 

🔗 Connect with the founder on LinkedIn: Joanne Brink

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TechWays is a 2025 Fellow in the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship.‍