Securing the Future.
We open cybersecurity careers to young Africans, whatever their background. Students, career-changers, teenagers and the employers who hire them, learning together in one community.
Stand with us and help close the gap between Africa's cyber threats and the people trained to meet them.
Africa can't defend what it can't staff.
Ransomware is hitting hospitals and ministries. Account takeovers are hitting banks. Kenya's digital economy is growing faster than the workforce defending it, and the people who could defend it are priced out of training before they start. Talent is there. Fees are the barrier.
Explore our whyThe threat is big. We can't afford to train small.
Talent is not what is missing. Access is. So we built a path that takes a curious teenager or a career-changer from their first capture-the-flag to their first job: an open community, a six-month academy, mentors who are practising professionals, and employers who hire from it. We are proving it in Kenya, and sharing the model so it can work in any country on the continent.
A place at the table for everyone.
AfricaHackon brings learners, employers, partners, practitioners and donors into one community. Each gets something real out of it, and each makes it stronger for the rest.
- Learn.Apply to the Academy →For learners
Start a career in cybersecurity.
Six months of hands-on labs, a mentor who works in the field and a portfolio employers can check. Titans welcomes teenagers from thirteen.
- Hire.Hire from the Academy →For employers
Hire people who can do the work.
Our graduates have spent six months attacking and defending real systems across web, API, cloud, forensics and GRC. Tell us what you need and we will connect you with graduates.
- Partner.Talk partnerships →For partners and sponsors
Build Africa's defenders with us.
Sponsor the conference, a CTF or a cohort, shape training for your sector, and put your organisation in front of the people who will secure it.
- Join.Become a member →For practitioners
Grow with the community.
Meetups, capture-the-flag, HackTheBox Kenya, the annual conference and a Discord where members help each other every day.
- Give.Donate →For donors
Open a place for a learner.
Most strong applicants lack only the fee. USD 500 covers one learner's tuition, and we report back on what your support achieves.
Meet our hackers.
In their own words.
Academy learners on where they started, what changed and what they would tell the next cohort.
- Christine Bai MboyaAfricaHackon Academy learner
“Before joining AfricaHackOn Academy, I had a background in Computer Science and was already working in tech, specifically in project management within a cybersecurity environment. Being around security professionals and seeing the impact of their work made me genuinely interested in the field.”
“The most valuable aspect has been the hands-on, practical learning approach. The bootcamp goes beyond theory and allows me to actively engage with real-world cybersecurity scenarios, which has significantly improved my understanding of how attacks happen and how to defend against them.”
“For future students, I'd say don't rush the process. Keep practicing, stay curious, and don't be afraid to get things wrong in the labs and assignments, that's where the real learning happens.”
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“The most valuable aspect has been the hands-on, practical learning approach. The bootcamp goes beyond theory and allows me to actively engage with real-world cybersecurity scenarios, which has significantly improved my understanding of how attacks happen and how to defend against them.”
“For future students, I'd say don't rush the process. Keep practicing, stay curious, and don't be afraid to get things wrong in the labs and assignments, that's where the real learning happens.”
- Elvis Mbugua MuchiriAfricaHackon Academy learner
“Before this I was a software developer dealing with ERP systems. Honestly, the more I built things the more I started wondering how easy would it be to break this? I began to see that being a good developer wasn't enough if the things I was building could be easily compromised.”
“Hands-on practical approach and learning to think like an attacker. That shift in mindset has been eye opening.”
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“Hands-on practical approach and learning to think like an attacker. That shift in mindset has been eye opening.”
- Vincent OokoAfricaHackon Academy learner
“The practical side of the class experiments was most valuable to me as it gave us a space to practice the skills we learnt during classes. Getting to physically meet cybersecurity engineers working in the field is a major boost on my career aspirations and it allowed me to finally settle on a path I'd want to pursue. Forever grateful.”
- Paul GaiusAfricaHackon Academy learner
“For me the physical meetups were the best times as it was when we would meet as peers and with the mentors for wonderful and entertaining discussions. Truly those were the best moments of the program, the networking and just being in a space with like minded people.”
- Joseph Mwaura ThigaAfricaHackon Academy learner
“To anyone thinking about joining just come. Come as you are. You do not need to have it all figured out. I did not. What matters is that you show up, stay curious and find your squad because trust me, your squad will carry you on the days you feel like giving up.”
“And to AfricaHackon team, thank you for creating a space where Africans can own this field. Keep going. I am getting started.”
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“And to AfricaHackon team, thank you for creating a space where Africans can own this field. Keep going. I am getting started.”
Be part of the future.
Student, professional or organisation, there is a place for you at the table. Every donation opens a place for a learner who cannot afford the fees.
Donate