Akaliza Keza Gara

Akaliza Keza Gara is a Rwandan IT activist and entrepreneur. She is active in promoting the field to girls and has been recognised for her activism by awards from the Rwandan government and the International Telecommunication Union. Gara has founded a technology consultancy and website design company and an animation studio. She has been described as "one of the few young Rwandan women who have made significant strides in changing the face of technology in the country" and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community.

Career Akaliza Keza Gara was born in Uganda and has lived at various times in South Africa, Kenya, the United States, France, Switzerland, and Italy. She has a bachelor's degree in multimedia technology and design from the University of Kent, Canterbury (UK). Gara founded the multimedia business Shaking Sun to allow her to win more work in the fields of graphic design, website design and animation and to train young Rwandans. In 2012 Gara was awarded the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur in ICT award by the Rwanda Ministry of Youth and ICT. She pioneered the use of the "Rwandans on Twitter" (#RwOT) hashtag.

In 2013 Microsoft appointed Gara as a youth representative for East Africa, the first time a Rwandan had been appointed to that position, and she was one of four members of the youth advisory council to the corporation's 4Afrika initiative.

Gara also founded the Yambi Animation Studios.

Gara has been described as "one of the few young Rwandan women who have made significant strides in changing the face of technology in the country".

Honors Honors received by Akaliza Keza Gara include: Honorary Doctorate from University of Kent Member of the Microsoft 4Afrika Advisory Board Member of the UN Secretary General Panel on Digital Cooperation