Young Systems Leader: Cynthia Gape

Cynthia Gape is a Software Trainer and Design Lead at Peek Vision, where she co-leads the development of innovative training strategies that strengthen partner capacity and expand access to quality eye health services. She is based in Botswana and works with NGOs, governments and eye hospitals in multiple countries in Africa and Asia. In her role, she ensures that partners are equipped with the skills to effectively use Peek software for large-scale vision screening, programme monitoring and continuous improvement.

Cynthia co-led the recent optimisation of Peek’s training delivery model, significantly reducing the duration of in-person training sessions while maintaining high standards of quality. She helped design streamlined training approaches that lower programme costs and accelerate partner onboarding. By introducing Training of Trainers and Partner-as-Trainer models, she has rapidly expanded the number of trained Peek users, building local ownership and capacity to deliver sustainable eye health services at scale.

She is also supporting a pilot project to develop an AI-enabled chatbot that provides real-time assistance to Peek software users during training and programme implementation. Designed to enable immediate support for field queries, the chatbot aims to enhance efficiency and user confidence while reducing reliance on central teams.

Recognised for integrating innovative solutions into existing workflows, Cynthia fosters strong collaboration between partner teams and trainers. Her systems-thinking approach connects technology, training, and service delivery to drive scalable impact across multiple regions.

Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Health Information Management, graduating with Dean’s Awards for outstanding performance in professional practice. She previously worked as a Project Office Intern at Botho University, contributing to DHIS 2 installation and system customisation based on user needs. Before joining Peek, she also worked as a trainer and quality assurance lead with the Botswana-UPenn Partnership, supporting Peek-powered programme activities in the country.

Passionate about leveraging technology to strengthen health systems, Cynthia is committed to designing inclusive and adaptable training strategies. She ensures that training and support systems are scalable and sustainable, combining technology and human expertise to help increase access to care and ultimately reduce the burden of avoidable vision loss.