Over the past few years, the summer workshop Girls Code Club has introduced more than a hundred young girls to coding. For some, it sparked a genuine interest that led them to pursue IT studies at university level.
“At first it was very scary doing a programming workshop with no previous experience”, says Artemis Mokhtari, who did not have a strong interest in technology going into the Girls Code Club workshop in 2022.
“I have always been a pen and paper kind of person, but technology plays such a big role in our society, and I wanted to be better at navigating it. Then I discovered that coding was actually really interesting! I especially love the way it combines logic and creativity.”
Foundation for future studies
Girls Code Club is a three-week bootcamp for girls in the gymnasium, organised by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The workshop has been held every summer since 2021, aiming to give young girls an opportunity to try coding and data analysis in a relaxed and fun environment.
Like Artemis Mokhtari, Tanya Benu had no previous experience in programming when she applied to Girls Code Club. She had originally planned on studying medicine after high school, but the workshop experience changed her mind.
“In programming you create something from nothing, and that fascinates me. This workshop also introduces programming in a good way; the teachers explain and structure it well,” says Tanya.
Gives insight into industry
Both Tanya and Artemis now study Software Engineering and Management. While Tanya is working towards a career in cyber security and digital forensics, Artemis is aiming for a future in artificial intelligence or data analysis.
“One of the best parts of the course was meeting people from the industry and learning how they plan and organise their work,” sats Artemis.
“We had lectures from current PhD students, visited different parts of the campuses and even got to try hacking a website. It was also so nice to be in a supportive environment with other girls, where we could learn freely without any judgement”, she adds.
“Made me fall in love with IT again”
Aisha Attar, another student in Software Engineering, already had plenty of coding experience before taking part in the Girls Code Club workshop. She had been interested in computers since childhood, and knew she wanted to study something in the field of IT or Computer Science.
“I joined Girls Code Club to get to know the campus and teachers,” says Aisha. “But I was surprised at how much programming I learnt!”
She especially enjoyed the interactive lectures, and the hands-on exercises.
“I am a very practical person and not really a fan of theory. But the teachers in this workshop were amazing. They made me fall in love with IT all over again.”
