A Journey of Learning, Courage and Possibility
From a free digital skills course in 2023 to international advocacy, web development and an Xbox-supported game development fellowship.
A New Country, a New Beginning
In 2023, Esther Mbale had just moved from Malawi to Norway to pursue her master’s degree. Having graduated from the University of Malawi in 2022 with a degree in Social Science, specializing in Gender Studies, she was beginning an exciting new chapter.
But moving to a new continent also came with uncertainty.
Adjusting to a different country, navigating university life and building a new community were not always easy. Esther wanted something meaningful to focus on while finding her feet.
Then she came across a LinkedIn advertisement for HerStory, a free digital skills programme offered through Digital Skills for Africa in celebration of Women’s History Month.
She was interested in learning digital marketing, social media management, branding and graphic design using Canva. The opportunity to access these skills for free was too good to pass up.
What began as a decision to take an online course would eventually change how Esther imagined her professional future.
Discovering the Power of Digital Storytelling
One of Esther’s biggest discoveries during the programme was Canva.
Before the training, she had limited experience designing visually compelling posters and presentations. Through HerStory, she began learning how layout, graphics and visual storytelling could communicate ideas more effectively.
She soon found opportunities to put those skills into practice.
As a contributor to the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH) and the Pan African Students Union, Esther supported digital communications, social media content and advocacy initiatives.
One particularly meaningful experience was contributing to a campaign marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Esther designed 16 posters over 16 days, helping communicate messages about gender equality and activism through SAIH’s social media platforms.
She also developed a presentation about Malawi’s coffee industry using graphics and visual storytelling. The presentation was shared by her university, an achievement that strengthened her confidence in communicating ideas to wider audiences.
Her background in Gender Studies had already taught her to examine inequality, community development and social change.
Digital Skills for Africa gave her new tools to put that knowledge into practice.
When Women’s Football Sparked an Interest in Technology
Esther’s journey into more technical fields began somewhere unexpected: women’s football.
A passionate supporter of the Malawi women’s national football team, the Scorchers, Esther became frustrated with the limited visibility and accessibility of women’s football coverage.
While following the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, she encountered difficulties accessing broadcasts and keeping up with matches.
She contacted CAF Women’s Football to express her concerns and later reached out to Kwathu about the challenges she was experiencing.
Through those conversations, Kwathu helped her access match highlights and introduced her to examples of digital platforms celebrating women’s achievements.
This sparked a new question: What if she could create digital platforms that addressed problems she cared about?
Esther returned to Digital Skills for Africa for a website development course.
She went on to build KicksKitsandCities, her own website documenting her travels to football stadiums and combining her interests in women’s football, travel and digital storytelling.
She also enrolled in Harvard’s CS50 Python course through edX and began following coding tutorials through SheCodes.
For someone who had not originally imagined pursuing technology professionally, these experiences represented a significant change in direction.
She was no longer interested only in using digital platforms.
She wanted to build them.
From Digital Skills to Game Development
In 2026, Esther’s journey took another exciting turn when she joined the Nyenyezi Fellowship, an initiative bringing together Kwathu Kollective and Xbox-supported game development mentorship.
Through the fellowship, Esther is contributing to the development of Kwathu Smart Innovation Farms (KSIF), an educational farming simulation game.
The game explores how interactive experiences can help young people learn about agriculture, economics and agribusiness through gameplay.
For Esther, the fellowship represents an opportunity to explore an entirely new area of technology while gaining practical experience alongside other emerging developers.
It has also challenged assumptions she encountered growing up about gaming and technology being predominantly male spaces.
Today, she is not only following developments in gaming.
She is helping create a game herself.
The experience has expanded her understanding of how technology can make education more engaging and accessible, while strengthening her interest in developing digital products that address real-world challenges.
Building a Future at the Intersection of Technology and Development
Esther’s ambitions continue to grow.
Looking ahead, she hopes to pursue doctoral research exploring the relationship between artificial intelligence and community development.
She is also interested in developing digital solutions for women’s football, particularly platforms that can improve the visibility, accessibility and experience of the sport.
Ultimately, Esther hopes to combine her background in social science with growing technical expertise to build products that address community needs and expand opportunities for women.
Her journey demonstrates that entering technology does not require abandoning an existing professional identity.
For Esther, technology has become another way of advancing the interests in education, gender equality and social change that motivated her from the beginning.
An Invitation to the Next Generation
When asked what she would tell a young woman considering applying for a Digital Skills for Africa scholarship, Esther’s message was clear:
“Technology is for EVERYONE.”
She encourages young people to pursue learning opportunities even when they feel uncertain, lack a technical background or have not yet decided what career they want to build.
Her own journey began with a free online course and a desire to learn something new.
It has since taken her through international communications, advocacy, website development, programming and game development.
At Kwathu, we celebrate Esther not simply because of the opportunities she has pursued, but because of the curiosity and determination she continues to bring to every new chapter.
Her story reminds us that the impact of education often extends far beyond the classroom and that skills acquired today can open doors years into the future.
As Digital Skills for Africa works toward equipping one million young Africans with foundational digital skills by 2030, we are proud to celebrate alumni like Esther whose journeys demonstrate what becomes possible when learning is accessible.
Congratulations, Esther. We cannot wait to see what you build next.
Your Journey Could Begin Here
Digital Skills for Africa is expanding access to digital education through its 2027 AI & Digital Skills Scholarship initiative.
Work With Us
Want to partner on or fund one of our programmes / initiatives? We are always open to collaborations and partnerships. Contact us via kollective@kwathu.org.
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