The Story

The Voices in the Shadow was born from a simple but urgent truth: the women who built pathways into technology for Black girls were largely invisible. Their stories weren't being told. Their names weren't being celebrated. And without those stories, the next generation of Black girls couldn't see themselves in tech, because no one showed them the way.

Only 0.7% of the UK tech workforce are Black women. This figure comes from the BCS and Coding Black Females research, reported by Computerworld. Not because the talent isn't there. Because the doors were never fully opened, and the women who pushed them open didn't always get the recognition they deserved.

That's what this project sets out to change. And you can help us.

Through the book The Voices in the Shadow, we document and celebrate the journeys of influential Black women in tech, women who navigated invisible barriers, overcame structural obstacles, and built remarkable careers. Their stories aren't just inspiring; they're practical roadmaps for the women coming up behind them.

What Your Support Makes Possible:

The book reaches multiple audiences at once. For young Black girls, it sparks the imagination, showing them that a career in technology is not just possible, it's already being lived by women who look like them. For Black women already in the industry, it names the barriers that often go unspoken and creates a community of visibility and recognition. For parents, teachers, and school principals, it opens a conversation about the opportunities in tech that too often never reach Black families and classrooms.

Why Now?

For years, corporate DEI programmes helped sustain projects like this one, funding that allowed us to keep telling these stories, reaching more schools, and supporting more women. As companies retreat from those commitments, the responsibility shifts to us, to our community, our allies, and everyone who believes that representation in technology is not a "nice to have" but a necessity.

The Voices in the Shadow is a legacy project. It existed before the funding, and it will outlast the rollbacks. But we need your help to keep it going.

Every Contribution, No Matter the Size, Helps Us:

1- Print and distribute the book to schools and community organisations

2 - Reach more young Black girls at the moment they're deciding what's possible for them

3 - Amplify the voices of Black women in tech who deserve to be discovered by their industry

4 - Keep this work independent and community-powered

These women's stories deserve to be heard. These girls deserve to see themselves in the future of technology. And this community deserves the tools to make that happen.

Help us keep the voices in the shadow in the light.

How To Verify This Campaign:

This is an official GTA Black Women in Tech campaign for The Voices in the Shadow.

You can verify the project here:

This page shows the history of the project, previous volumes, school distribution, supporters, the GoFundMe link, and the Digital & Culture Minister endorsement.

Founder/Organiser Proof:

This fundraiser is organised by GTA Black Women in Tech, with Daniela Cardoso as co-organiser. The project was founded by Flavilla Fongang and is part of GTA Black Women in Tech’s wider education and impact work.