Frequently Asked Questions
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About the program:
You are eligible for the CyberGirls Fellowship if you;
- passionate about starting a career in cybersecurity.
- are a Female aged 18 – 28 years old as of the commencement of the fellowship.
- are a citizen and resident of an African country.
- 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 7 months of intensive training.
- do not have a job in cybersecurity or possess a cybersecurity certification that can land you one.
- are not participating in any fellowship or boot camp as of the application deadline.
We depend on the generosity of our partners and donors to enable us to provide laptop support to beneficiaries of the CyberGirls Fellowship. Hence we may or may not require applicants to have a laptop to participate in the fellowship and that will depend on how much funding we receive for the cohort.
The training is fully virtual for all beneficiaries of the fellowship program with a few in-person gatherings in beneficiary countries. However, we have a residential program for exceptional beneficiaries that will require their physical presence at our residential hub.
Yes. The training takes you through basic digital literacy to intermediate cybersecurity skills. The participant is only required to have a high interest in pursuing a career in cybersecurity.
The application process for the next cohort begins in November 2023 but training commences in March 2024 and ends in October 2024.
The training holds daily except for National Holidays in Nigeria.
The CyberGirls Fellowship Program is free. You would 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.
Only the best CyberGirls beneficiaries who successfully complete the training will graduate and upon graduation, will (based on availability and suitability) be offered internship/job placement opportunities within Africa and across the world.
The learning journey begins with cybersecurity fundamentals and moves on to more specialized niche cybersecurity learning paths which fellows will decide on midway through the fellowship. These paths include Threat Intelligence, Cloud Security, Penetration/Vulnerability Testing, Governance Risk and Compliance, Incident Analysis/Response (SOC Analyst Level 1), and Web Application Testing/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.
About You:
Yes, Fellows must be fluent in spoken and written English as all program activities are 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.
About Admission:
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 24th March 2023.
References are an integral part of the CyberGirls application process. You must supply the names of two referees when you submit your application. Please select your referees carefully. They should be people who can comment on your general suitability to join the fellowship. Referees should be known to you, either in an academic or professional capacity. They should not be a relative or close personal friend.
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.
To complete the application you are to attach a valid means of identification. A valid means of identification would be one that supports your nationality claim. Our preferred means of identification are your international passport or national identity card.
Contact the CyberGirls Admissions Team
If you didn’t find the answer to your question in the FAQs please contact us here, send an email to our admissions team at cgfellowship[@]cybersafefoundation.org or call us at +234 814 196 9481
