Women in Tech
A training program by Zain Iraq and Five One Labs in Erbil, empowering women to start their careers in technology.
About the Program
Women in Tech is a nationwide initiative by Zain Iraq that fosters the development of girls and women in science, technology, and engineering. The program connects female university students with experienced mentors and trainers to prepare them for careers in tech, and has reached over 318 beneficiaries across Iraq. The Erbil edition was delivered in partnership with Five One Labs and ran for three months, with two groups of around 25 students each training in parallel.
Group One — Full-Stack Web Development
I trained the first group of around 25 students in full-stack web development. Students started with JavaScript and TypeScript foundations, learned the basics and intermediate levels of frontend development using React, then moved to backend development with Node.js and Express.js, and learned how to design and work with databases. By the end, they understood how the frontend, backend, and database connect to form a complete web application.
Group Two — Mobile App Development
The second group of around 25 students focused on building cross-platform mobile applications using React Native, Expo, and TypeScript. Alongside the mobile side, I taught them backend development with Node.js and Express.js, explained the different types of databases and when to use each, and we worked hands-on with PostgreSQL to power their applications.
My Teaching Approach
Every session was built around live coding rather than slides — I wrote code with the students, then they applied each concept in hands-on exercises and their own projects. When someone got stuck, we debugged it together one-on-one, because a bug you fix yourself teaches more than one you watch being fixed. Throughout the program I brought in real-world practices like Git workflows and code reviews, so students worked the way professional teams do. Much of that came from my own day-to-day work — during the program I was working as a full-stack developer at Enlightors, an Erbil-based digital agency where I learned a great deal that I carried straight into the classroom.
My Role as Trainer
I designed the curriculum for both tracks and delivered all the training sessions across the three months. Beyond the technical content, I mentored students on transitioning from university into the tech industry — reviewing their work, answering career questions, and giving practical guidance. The goal of the program is for participants to enter the field as future change-makers, and my focus was giving them the confidence and real-world skills to do that. A special thanks to Sima Qader, who worked alongside me throughout the program — helping shape the curriculum, supporting students during sessions and daily tasks, and making sure no one was left stuck.
Outcomes & Impact
- For the final projects, students formed teams of 3–4, and each team chose its own project to design and build, presented at a closing demo day.
- All graduates were awarded certificates at the end of the program.
- Several student projects went beyond the classroom and were deployed as real, working apps.
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Partners
One of Iraq's leading mobile telecom operators. Through its Women in Tech initiative, Zain invests in the development of girls and women in science, technology, and engineering across Iraq, connecting them with mentors and trainers to prepare them for careers in tech.
A nonprofit startup incubator founded in 2016 that supports entrepreneurs through hands-on training, mentorship, financial access, and ecosystem building — with deep roots in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where it hosted the Erbil edition of the program.
Student Feedback
Asia Ihsan
Women in Tech Participant
“Mr. Didar is an exceptional mobile app development trainer who demonstrated strong technical expertise, professionalism, and patience throughout the Women in Tech program. He explained complex topics in a simple, structured manner and was always willing to answer questions and offer support. His excellent problem-solving abilities, especially in debugging, helped students understand real-world challenges. His guidance created a positive, motivating learning environment that boosted my confidence and skills in mobile development as a beginner.”
Gona Hoshyar
Women in Tech Participant
“I had the privilege of participating in a three-months mentorship, during which I attended lectures by an exceptional instructor. He was incredibly kind, and helpful. Whenever we faced challenges or were unsure how to proceed, he guided us patiently and thoughtfully, even taking the time to solve each person’s code individually. Beyond his knowledge, what truly stood out was his dedication to ensuring every student felt supported and confident, no matter their starting point. I genuinely believe he is one of the best instructors I have ever had, and his mentorship has been both inspiring and motivating.”