Juliana Rotich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juliana Rotich
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Rotich in 2017
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| Born | 1977 (age 47–48) |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Alma mater | University of Missouri–Kansas City (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science) |
Juliana Rotich is a Kenyan expert in information technology. She creates online tools that help gather information from many people during emergencies. She also works on projects about the environment.
Juliana is a co-founder of iHub, which is a special place in Nairobi, Kenya, where tech people can work together. She also helped start Ushahidi. This is a special computer program that helps collect and map important information. She is also a TED Senior Fellow, which means she gives talks about her ideas.
She helps guide the Bankinter Foundation in Spain, which supports new ideas and businesses. She is also part of Kenya's Vision 2030 Delivery Board, helping plan for the country's future.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Juliana Rotich was born in Kenya in 1977. She went to school in Kenya for her early education. Later, she moved to the United States to study at the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
She earned a degree in Computer Science from this university. She also became an MIT Media Lab Fellow, which is a special program for people who are very creative with technology.
Career in Technology
Juliana Rotich has worked in technology for many years. In 2008, she helped create a non-profit company called Ushahidi. This name means "testimony" in the Swahili language.
What is Ushahidi?
Ushahidi is a special type of computer program called Open-source software. This means its code is free for anyone to use and improve. Ushahidi helps collect information from many different people, like from cell phones or websites. It then maps this information to show where things are happening.
Ushahidi was first used during a crisis in Kenya in 2007–2008. It helped people share what was happening on the ground. Since then, Ushahidi has been used in many other countries. These include Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Haiti.
Juliana was the Executive Director of Ushahidi from 2011 to 2015.
Other Projects and Speaking
Juliana Rotich also writes articles for websites like Afrigadget.com. She was an editor for Global Voices Online, focusing on environmental topics. She has also spoken at the TED Global Conference.
She often talks about how technology can help Africa. She also speaks about protecting Kenya's forests and water sources.
To help people get internet access even when there are power outages, Juliana co-founded BRCK Inc. This company makes a special modem that runs on a battery. It can provide internet for eight hours without electricity.
In 2014, Juliana spoke at the Design Indaba Conference in Cape Town. She also advised the United Nations Secretary-General on how data can help achieve sustainable development goals.
In 2017, Juliana took part in the W20 Summit in Berlin, Germany. She was on a panel with important leaders like Chancellor Angela Merkel and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. She represented BRCK at this event.
In 2022, Juliana became the Head of Fintech Integration Solutions at Safaricom. She now helps manage the company's financial services, especially those linked to M-Pesa.
Awards and Recognition
Juliana Rotich has received many awards for her work:
- In 2011, the World Economic Forum named her the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year in Africa.
- She was given a TED Senior Fellowship.
- She also received a Director’s Fellowship from the MIT Media Laboratory.
- In 2011, The Guardian Newspaper listed her among the “World’s Top 100 Women.”
- In 2013, she won the Digital, Life, Design (DLD) Women Impact Award in Munich, Germany.
- In 2019, she received the German Africa Prize. This award honors people who work to support democracy, peace, and human rights in Africa. The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, presented her with this award.
- In 2012, Forbes.com named Juliana Rotich as one of "The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa 2012."
Other Activities
Juliana Rotich also serves on the boards of several important organizations.
Company Boards
- Standard Group: She has been a Non-Executive Director on their Board since 2018.
- BASF: She was a member of their Global Sustainability Advisory Council in 2018.
- Microsoft: She has been part of their 4Afrika Advisory Council since 2013.
Non-profit Groups
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: She joined their AI Ethics and Safety Advisory Committee in 2023.
- Lemelson Foundation: She has been a member of their Advisory Committee since 2017.
See also
In Spanish: Juliana Rotich para niños
