Become a CyberGirl
"Ideal CyberGirl?" Nah!
There is no such thing as an “Ideal CyberGirl”
The CyberGirls Fellowship application process is deliberately tailored to consider each applicant as a unique and whole person. This enables us to carefully seek out individuals who are passionate and dedicated to breaking barriers and equipping themselves with the required skills to begin their careers in cybersecurity, improve their local communities, and seize work opportunities in Africa and across the world.
Africa's Biggest Female Focused Novice to Professional Cybersecurity Training
About CyberGirls Fellowship
CyberGirls Fellowship is a free 1-year fellowship program that equips girls and women aged 18-28 years old with globally sought-after cybersecurity skills, positioning them to start a career in cybersecurity and helping them to seize decent work opportunities within Africa and across the world.
The fellowship is designed to improve the socio-economic well-being of girls in Africa through training, mentorship and placement. During the one-year duration of this fellowship, you will be given hands-on cybersecurity training, become certification-ready, and possibly get paid internship/job shadowing opportunities.
The Cybersecurity Journey
The learning journey begins with cybersecurity fundamentals and moves on to more specialised niche cybersecurity learning paths which fellows will decide on midway through the fellowship.
- Cloud Security
- Critical Infrastructure Security
- DevSecOps
- Digital Forensics and Threat Intelligence
- Governance Risk and Compliance
- Incident Analysis/Response (SOC Analyst Level 1)
- Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing
Ready to move from a cybersecurity novice to a global professional
CyberGirls Fellowship welcomes applicants from all over Africa. Do you desire to benefit from the CyberGirls experience? Kickstart your journey by checking if you meet the eligibility criteria.
You can be a part of the fellowship if you;
- are a Female aged 18 – 28 years old as of the commencement of the fellowship (25th March 2024)
- are a citizen and resident of an African country and passionate about (starting a career in) cybersecurity
- are proficient in English and have completed High school/Secondary school
- can withstand the pressures of an intensive hands-on technical training
- have access to the internet and are willing to devote fully to 8 months of intensive training
- do not have a job in cybersecurity or possess a major cybersecurity certification that can land you one
- are not participating in any similarly timed tech fellowship or boot camp.
Please note: Individuals living with disabilities that do not impede their ability to use a computer are welcome to apply.
It is time to discover your talent and ability
Deadline: 11th December 2023
Feedback: 14th December 2023
Stage 1
Complete the Application Form
Deadline: 8th January 2024
Feedback: 12th January 2024
Stage 2
Cybersecurity Essentials Course
Deadline: 12th January 2024
Feedback: 12th February 2024
Stage 3
Complete Identification Verification
Feedback: 4th March 2024
Stage 4
Personal Statement and Application Video Review
Application Process
Start: Monday, 20th November 2023, 12 pm (WAT)
Deadline: Monday, 11th December 2023, 12 pm (WAT)
Intending applicants are given a 3-week window to complete and submit the application form. In this section, you’ll share detailed information about yourself, including contact information, educational and employment information, a 3000-character limit personal statement, and a 2-minute application video. Ensure to provide correct and verifiable information as failure to do so results in automatic disqualification from the process and loss of spot in the fellowship.
When you are satisfied with your application, click the ‘Submit’ button. Please note that once you have done this, you cannot modify your application, or any uploads made with it so ensure to review it carefully. We anticipate a high volume of applications, so please give yourself enough time to submit the strongest application possible. Remember, you can only submit one application and we will only accept your first application.
After submitting your application, you will see a pop-up acknowledging receipt and an email confirmation. Afterward, your application progress will also be communicated via email, refer to the application timeline or confirmation email for feedback dates.
Please note: If there are any adjustments to the feedback date, applicants will be notified via email and through our social media channels. Contact the admissions office via email if you still haven’t received an email two days after the communicated date.
Health and Disability
You are asked to provide us with information about your health if it may affect your studies. Having a health condition or living with a disability will not hinder your acceptance into the fellowship provided the condition will not restrict your full participation in fellowship activities. We are not asking whether you are ‘healthy’ as many health conditions can be managed appropriately.
Language Proficiency
The CyberGirls Fellowship application process and training will be conducted in English Language. Hence all Applicants are advised to learn to communicate effectively in English. Any application not submitted in English is ineligible.
Personal Statement
When reading your statement, our Admissions team wants to see your interest, commitment, and passion for Cybersecurity. You are expected to use not more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words) to pass on the message and ensure each word counts. Plagiarism is a serious offense; plagiarized responses will be deemed ineligible.
- The personal statement should be written in English language within the application form. We advise that you pause completing the application, write it out on a notepad, and paste it when completed.
- Do not use bullet points or numbering, put your response in paragraphs. You can dedicate a paragraph to answer each question.
- It is important to highlight key educational and vocational achievements, your course of study and University (indicate if completed or currently ongoing), your job role and industry (if you are currently employed), and the nature of your business if you are self-employed.
Follow our guide below to ensure you address all necessary details in your statement.
- Tell us about yourself, your work/educational background, and your key achievements.
- Tell us about your educational background.
- Tell us about any cybersecurity-related courses, training, or boot camps you have taken (indicate the name of the program, if it is currently ongoing, and the expected date of completion).
- Tell us about any cybersecurity-related association or network you belong to and how they have impacted you.
- Have you volunteered in any organization or occupied any leadership role before? If yes, what was the role and what did it entail?
- Why you should be chosen for this opportunity?
Application Video
The application video should be in English language, no longer than 2 minutes (can be a little less but not more), and should contain nothing except the applicant talking. You are expected to be properly dressed, clearly visible, and seated in a well-lit quiet environment. Ensure you are audible, and your environment is free from visual distractions.
- Do not recite a written script: Use bullet points instead. Using bullet points, just talk spontaneously as you would to a friend. Reading a written script doesn't help your application, convey communication skills, or display passion.
- When uploading your video file, ensure that it is properly named with your first name, last name, and document title e.g., Jane Doe – Application Video
- The accepted file format is .MP4, if your video file is in another format, feel free to use an open-source (free) video converter like FreeConvert, Veed.io or cloudconvert
- If dealing with a file that exceeds the 10 MB file size restriction, feel free to use an open-source (free) video compressor like FreeConvert, Veed.io, or Clideo
In the video, please respond to the following;
- Tell us about yourself, your work/educational background, and your key achievements.
- Why are you interested in cybersecurity and what aspect of cybersecurity interests you?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years (Career goals)?
- Why did you choose to enroll in this program?
- If selected, how does this program fit into your 5-year career goal?
- Peradventure you do not scale through this application stage, would you still pursue a career in cybersecurity and why?
- Why are you the right candidate for this opportunity?
Start date: Friday, 15th Dec 2023, 12 pm (WAT)
Deadline: Monday, 8th Jan 2024, 9 am (WAT)
Applicants who made it past the first stage of the application stage will receive an email prompting them to enroll in our Cyber Essentials course on our Learning Management System. The Cyber Essentials course is beginner-friendly and equips you with the first tool you need to begin your cybersecurity journey, awareness. This stage is competitive and only applicants who successfully complete the course and meet the 70% cut-off mark will make it to the next stage.
Please note: If there are any adjustments to the feedback date, applicants will be notified via email and through our social media channels. Contact the admissions office via email if you still haven’t received an email two days after the communicated date.
Start date: Friday, 12th January 2024, 12 pm (WAT)
Deadline: Monday, 12th February 2024, 9 am (WAT)
In this stage, you will be required to complete the identity verification and recommendation form.
Verifying your identity
Applicants who make it to this stage are expected to provide a valid means of identification in JPG/PNG/PDF format. The means of identification should be one that supports your nationality claim. Accepted means of identification include National identification card, international passport, and driver’s license.
A valid means of identification meets the following criteria;
- Contains your date of birth
- Has a clear photograph of your face
- Indicates your nationality
- Is a valid national identification method in your country
Recommendation
Recommendations are an integral part of the CyberGirls Application selection process. You are expected to turn in two letters;
- A signed Academic or Educational recommendation letter written by an individual who has known you in an academic or professional capacity. We recommend having a former teacher, professor, academic advisor, a current or former employer or supervisor writing this for you.
- A Signed Character Reference letter written by an individual that can comment on your general suitability to a CyberGirl. This can be a family member, friend, guardian, or community leader. This person will also serve as an emergency contact and guarantor liable to incur charges in the event of damage or loss of property.
Ensure you inform the individuals whose letters you are submitting that they will be contacted by our team before submitting their details.
Please note: The submitted data cannot be modified or corrected after submission. Ensure to provide correct and verifiable information as failure to do so results in automatic disqualification from the process and loss of spot in the fellowship.
All applicants who submit verifiable information in the third stage of the application will make it to this stage. In this stage personal statement and application video entries submitted in the first stage are graded using a point-based system and only 500 applicants will make it into the fellowship. Whilst you might naturally feel nervous, understanding the system would help you put your best foot forward and send in a strong application.
Grading System
Entries will be graded using the following criteria;
- Person
This section grades responses to questions 1 and 7 in the application video and questions 1, 2, 5, and 6 in the personal statement. The applicant is expected to talk about themselves, their achievements, experiences, and most importantly why they are the right candidates. In summary, the goal is to answer the question goal “Who are you and why should we choose you?” Having leadership experience is an added advantage.
- Purpose
This section assesses responses to questions 3, 4, and 5 in the application video. The applicant is expected to discuss their career goals, why they chose the fellowship, and how the fellowship helps actualize those goals. A key indicator is their ability to explain clearly how helpful the training will be in achieving their career goal.
- Passion and Enthusiasm
This section grades responses to questions 2 and 6 in the application video and question 4 in the personal statement. The applicant is expected to discuss their interest in cybersecurity, and showcase the knowledge gathered through research on the subject matter and the next steps if they do not get into the program. We firmly believe that passion doesn’t easily give way when faced with rejections, so we actively look out for resilience. The goal is to answer the question “How passionate are you about cybersecurity and what motivates you?”
- Preparation
This section assesses the response to question 3 in the personal statement. The goal is to answer the question “What have you done about your passion for cybersecurity and how have you been able to nurture this passion?”. The applicants are expected to demonstrate an interest in developing their knowledge of cybersecurity through research, free and paid courses, workshops, training, boot camps, and university education.
- Presentation and Delivery
This section assesses all the applicants’ responses taking into consideration how applicants are able to clearly communicate the points, display passion, and present themselves as excellent choices. The goal is to answer the question “Do you think this candidate fits the profile of our ideal CyberGirl fellow?”
Only 1 in 40 applications will make it to this stage. All applicants will be informed of the status of their application via email. Successful applicants are carefully selected through an intense review process by the CyberGirls Fellowship admissions committee. Applicants who meet all admission requirements will be sent an email welcoming them into the fellowship before the 7th of March 2024.
Note: Only contact the admissions team for updates if you haven’t received the email on the status of your application two days after the communicated feedback date.
Contact the CyberGirls Admissions Team
If you have any questions on the admission process please refer to the FAQs. If you still need to contact us, send an email to our admissions team at cgfellowship[@]cybersafefoundation.org or call us on +234 814 1969 381
Frequently Asked Questions
This fellowship is only open to female applicants aged 18-28 who are citizens and residents of African countries.
Owning a personal computer is a requirement to participate and succeed in the CyberGirls Fellowship.
The training is fully virtual for all beneficiaries of the fellowship program with a few in-person gatherings in beneficiary countries.
Yes. The training takes you from cybersecurity awareness to hands-on cybersecurity training in your desired specialised path. The participant is only required to have a high interest in pursuing a career in cybersecurity.
The training commences on 25th March 2024 and runs for 8 months.
The training is held on weekdays from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 WAT (West African Time) except for National Holidays in Nigeria.
The CyberGirls Fellowship Program is free. You will not be required to make any payments before admission or during the program.
Yes, the fellowship program is selectively open to undergraduates whose school activities will not affect their availability for the training.
The Fellowship is intensive and will require active and engaged participation to successfully create a meaningful fellowship experience.
Fellows will commit to:
- Devoting at least 4 hours daily to training and other fellowship activities
- Collaborating with other fellows to work on class activities, group projects, and external presentations
- Participating in the full programming of the fellowship including masterclasses, mentoring sessions, technical competitions (e.g., capture the flag), open days, coaching sessions, and other internal activities.
- Contributing their knowledge, leadership, creativity, and voice to other Foundation programs. Whether serving as volunteers, mentors, or facilitating local trainings.
The learning journey begins with cybersecurity fundamentals and moves on to more specialised niche cybersecurity learning paths which fellows will decide on midway through the fellowship. These paths include Critical Infrastructure Security, Digital Forensics and Threat Intelligence, Cloud Security, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing, Governance Risk and Compliance, Incident Analysis/Response (SOC Analyst Level 1), and DevSecOps.
You will also be exposed to opportunities such as mentoring sessions with leading female cybersecurity professionals, hands-on coaching sessions, masterclasses, and fireside chats with leaders from across the world, and a landscape that connects you with other budding cybersecurity talents in Africa.
Yes, Fellows must be fluent in spoken and written English as all programming is conducted in English.
It is important to us that applicants with disabilities can fully participate in our process. The Foundation will provide reasonable accommodations deemed necessary for qualified applicants and Fellows to participate in the selection process and in the Fellowship. If you are a qualified applicant and require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application, please contact the admissions team.
The Foundation covers visas, transportation, and accommodation for all compulsory out-of-country in-person convenings. While we can provide support in procuring visas for voluntary in-person convenings, fellows are responsible for covering any visa costs.
A character reference letter can be written by an individual who can comment on your general suitability to become a CyberGirl. This can be a family member, friend, guardian, or community leader. This person will also serve as an emergency contact and guarantor liable to incur charges in the event of damage or loss of property.
An academic or Educational recommendation letter can be written by an individual who has known you in an academic or professional capacity. We recommend having a former teacher, professor, academic advisor, current or former employer, or supervisor write this for you
Absolutely! We would be happy to receive applications from applicants who did not make it into this cohort, provided they are still eligible.
Beneficiaries of other CyberSafe Foundation programs are welcome to apply to the CyberGirls Fellowship provided they are not currently undergoing training.
Applicants are encouraged to apply if they will be between the ages of 18 – 28 as of the commencement of the fellowship – on 25th March 2024
No, you cannot. Once an application has been submitted it cannot be retracted or edited. We advise that you complete the application form with extra care in a relaxed environment to avoid any mistakes.
Accepted means of identification include a National identification card, international passport, and driver’s license.
A valid means of identification meets the following criteria;
- Contains your date of birth
- Has a clear photograph of your face
- Indicates your nationality
- Is a valid national identification method in your country
About Cybersafe Foundation
CyberSafe Foundation is Africa’s leading non-governmental organization in the digital development domain, on a mission to facilitate pockets of changes that ensure inclusive and safe digital access in Africa, especially for the most vulnerable in our society.
