There are multiple organizations, companies, schools, and governments making an effort to increase the number of young girls who are interested in STEM and coding. We cannot deny we live in a polarized world where gender is, sadly, an important factor when thinking about strategies to bring more students into the above-mentioned fields.
That is why we want to recognize, praise, and glamorize the work that organizations like Girls Who Code are doing to show girls around the world that this, and every field, is for them. These organizations want to show girls that they can have a great impact when making the world a better place, through technology and programming.
Women Who Code, Girls Who Code, and many other NGO’s and NPO’s are working hard to increase the number of girls and women in this field. They are also trying to get involved with hi-tech companies all around the world to put into practice what they truly believe in.
Let’s meet Girls Who Code, an organization which aims to increase the number of young girls in coding
Girls Who Code was founded by Reshma Saujani almost 7 years ago. This non-profit organization is constantly creating hundreds of new techniques and strategies to support and increase the number of women in every field of the broad subject of computer science.
Currently, Girls Who Code have almost 100,000 members and are partnering-up with relevant players like Microsoft, Google, AOL, Adobe, and IBM, among others. The work they’re doing is producing amazing results. They currently have several offices, in many countries around the globe.
But what is the main goal of this organization? When you ask them what is the main thing they want to achieve, Girls Who Code answers that they want to close the gender gap in technology, and to change the image of what a programmer should look like.
Recently, Girls Who Code partnered up with Accenture, to work on the future of tech. Also, they released an app to the Apple App Market for their alumni to keep in touch.
See also: Women CEOs in Tech Field
Meet Reshma Saujani: The founder and leader of Girls Who Code
Before founding Girls Who Code in 2012, this Harvard graduate was the Deputy Public Advocate at the Office of the New York City Public Advocate.
Reshma had the idea of opening this organization when she was running for the United States Congress. During that time, she understood that schools along her campaign route had a very, very low number of girls in the fields of computer science. So she decided to become an active player and to do something about it.
Tipping the scales: Let’s begin with learning how to code
We’re sure more female leaders will appear from the new, active, and more equal generations. We have no doubt that in the near future we won’t have to make an issue of this, but in the meantime, we need to prepare the field.
The invitation is for everyone; boys and girls learning to code in environments where gender is not under political or social discussion. The invitation is to learn how to program with a bigger goal in mind than just learning how to code. The invitation is to identify those places in which coding can become an asset or a space of inclusivity and do something out of it.
Read more about: Girls can’t code
As we’re sure anybody can learn how to code, we’re completely positive anybody can lead future, magnificent initiatives to make this field of work something inclusive, equal, and accessible for all.
Take the first step, give your kids, especially your girls, the tools they need to become the leaders of these initiatives. We assure you, the results are going to be heartwarming.