Where Feminism Meets Technology: Inside the EJWP’s Young Women’s AI Workshop

By Portia Muzorava

The Economic Justice for Women Project (EJWP), in collaboration with the Southern Africa Trust, recently hosted an Artificial Intelligence (AI) workshop in Zimbabwe designed to empower young women from marginalized communities to shape a more inclusive and gender-equitable digital future.

This event was part of the Feminist AI Futures Lab and gathered participants from areas including Chitungwiza, Hopley, Mberengwa, Kadoma, Bikita, Goromonzi, Chipinge, and Mutare. The goal was to deepen their understanding of emerging technologies and explore how AI can promote economic justice and gender equality.

As part of a broader program aimed at EJWP Community Action Hubs across Mberengwa, Shurugwi, Goromonzi, Chipinge, Buhera, Bikita, Hopley, Chitungwiza, and greater Harare, the workshop highlighted EJWP’s commitment to ensuring young women have a voice in shaping technological futures.

The workshop aimed to bolster young women’s ability to integrate and utilize AI effectively while encouraging critical reflection on how technology influences their lives, communities, and economic prospects.

Participants tackled crucial questions such as who AI is designed for, who stands to benefit, and what a feminist digital future entails. They also examined AI’s impact on social responsibilities, women’s representation in communities, surveillance, and the perpetuation of gender inequalities.

Karen Mukwasi from the Pada Platform, a technical expert in feminist technology, facilitated the training. She emphasized that feminist technology must prioritize women and marginalized groups in digital development.

“AI must not be treated as a technology that is designed only for those who already have power and access. A feminist approach requires us to ask whose voices are included, whose experiences are reflected in the technology and who may be left behind. Young women must be supported to become users, creators and decision-makers in the digital future.”

Margaret Mutsamvi, Executive Director of EJWP, described the workshop as a vital step in ensuring young women are included in conversations about technological progress.

“The future of work, education, communication and community development is increasingly connected to digital technologies. It is therefore important that young women, particularly those from marginalised communities, are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to use AI effectively. We want them to benefit from these technologies while also challenging systems that may deepen existing inequalities.”

She added that the training also promoted responsible and inclusive AI use.

“AI should be a tool for empowerment, not another mechanism for control, exclusion or surveillance. Our work is to ensure that women’s rights, safety, voices and lived experiences remain central as digital technologies continue to develop.”

For many attendees, the workshop was an opportunity to see how AI could enhance advocacy, communication, research, entrepreneurship, and community mobilization.

Epiphania Mabikwa, a community leader from the EJWP Goromonzi Community Action Hub, said the training helped participants recognize both the possibilities and challenges AI presents.

“This training has opened our eyes to the possibilities of AI and how we can use it to improve our work and our communities. As young women, we need to understand these technologies so that we can participate in shaping the future rather than being left behind. AI should be a tool that empowers women, amplifies our voices and creates opportunities for us.”

The workshop also raised concerns about the digital divide, highlighting issues such as data costs, limited access to devices, low digital literacy, online gender-based violence, and the exclusion of women’s voices in technology development.

Participants agreed that AI and digitalization could unlock new economic opportunities for women through access to information, online learning, digital entrepreneurship, content creation, networking, and better market access.

However, they noted these opportunities would only be meaningful if women have affordable internet, digital skills, protection from abuse, and a seat at decision-making tables.

The Feminist AI Futures Lab will continue creating spaces for young women to challenge existing digital systems and envision technology that is inclusive, accountable, and attentive to the needs of women and marginalized communities.