Girls Who Code

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Girls Who Code
GWC Logo 2020 - Teal.png
Formation2012
FounderReshma Saujani
Websitegirlswhocode.com

Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization which aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science by equipping young women with the necessary computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. The organization works toward closing the gender employment difference in technology, and to change the image of what a programmer looks like. They host a seven-week Summer Immersion Program, a two-week specialized Campus Program, after school Clubs, and a New York Times best-selling Penguin 13-book series.[2]

Summary[]

Girls Who Code was founded by Reshma Saujani in 2012 who came up with the idea of creating the organization during her run for the United States Congress when she noticed that schools along her campaign route lacked girls in computer science classrooms.[3] The organization runs programs during the academic year teaching high school girls computing skills like programming, robotics, and web design,[4][5] with sessions including projects and trips to companies like Twitter and Facebook.[3][6] There are now over 1500 Girls Who Code clubs across America, with the organization aiming to teach one million girls to code by 2020.[5] By December 2014, three thousand students had completed a Girls Who Code program, 95% of whom went on to major in computer science at university.[7]

In 2019, the organization announced plans to expand to 10,000 clubs in all 50 states.[8] In 2020, Girls Who Code launched a free 2-week virtual summer immersion program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the program serving 5,000 girls in its first year.[9][10]

The organization is sponsored by a number of software and technology companies including AOL, Google, and Microsoft,[6][11] and in August 2014 received a $1 million contribution from AT&T.[12]

History[]

As of 2015, only 18% of computer science college graduates are women.[13][14] The founder of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani, believes that girls are raised to "be perfect" while boys are raised to "be brave".[15] Reshma Saujani participated in a TED Talk where she spoke about the consequences girls face in their future if they don't start taking risks.[16] She speaks of the tech industry and how she thinks there is a bias towards women in the industry. The company announced that in 2016 the non-profit organization will be expanding to all 50 states- making it the largest computing program for girls in the United States. In August 2017, the nonprofit launched a 13-book series with Penguin Random House, including a nonfiction book, Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World, and several fiction books.[17] By the spring of 2018, Girls Who Code will have reached more than 50,000 girls with their computer science education programs.[18]

As of February 2021 Girls Who Code has more than 80,000 college-aged alums who are entering the workforce.[19] Girls Who Code clubs and programs have reached more than 300,000 girls globally as of March 2021.[20]

The organization's efforts to close the achievement gender gap has resulted in several honors. Saujani was recognized for 'her vision and efforts to close the gender gap in technology'.[21] Girls Who Code alumni include Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser, the creators of the video game Tampon Run.[22]

Partnerships[]

In 2016, Girls Who Code partnered with Accenture to work on the future of tech.[23] They subsequently released a report on recommendations to decrease the gender gap in computing.[24]

Girls Who Code has also announced they will be releasing an app on the Apple App Store.[25] This is intended to increase popularity and get more people involved.

Dell Technologies has partnered with the organization to support after school programs for young girls.[26]

On October 11, 2018, Girls Who Code partnered with TikTok starting the hashtag #raiseyourhand.[27] The app has announced to give US$1 for every video posted using the hashtag with a maximum of $10,000.[28]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "About Us". Girls Who Code. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  2. ^ "Children's Middle Grade Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - September 10, 2017 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Guynn, Jessica (August 15, 2014). "No boys allowed: Girls Who Code takes on gender gap". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Ross, Christopher (November 5, 2014). "Reshma Saujani's Ambitious Plan for Technology". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Aiming for 1 million "Girls Who Code"". CBS News. December 11, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Buhr, Sarah (December 14, 2014). "Girls Who Code Expands To Get More Young Women In Computer Science Majors". Tech Crunch. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Dockterman, Eliana (July 31, 2014). "Cracking the Girl Code: How to End the Tech Gender Gap". Time. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Barry, Erin (29 September 2018). "A nonprofit is trying to close the gender gap in tech by teaching girls to code 'as young as we possibly can'". CNBC.
  9. ^ "How nonprofits are transforming their remote programming to support girls in STEM". VentureBeat. 11 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Girls Who Code looks to hard hit rural areas this summer". Fortune.
  11. ^ Bilton, Nick (June 26, 2012). "Tech Companies Announce 'Girls Who Code' Initiative". Bits Blog. The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  12. ^ Tone, Ca-Ching (August 27, 2014). "AT&T Gives $1 Million to Girls Who Code". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  13. ^ Vu, Shana. "Cracking the code: Why aren't more women majoring in computer science?". UCLA Newsroom. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  14. ^ "Girls Who Code - About Us".
  15. ^ Saujani, Reshma, Teach girls bravery, not perfection, retrieved 2016-10-27
  16. ^ "Teach girls bravery, not perfection". 2016-03-08.
  17. ^ Alter, Alexandra (2017-08-21). "Teaching Kids Coding, by the Book". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  18. ^ "Girls Who Code free after school Clubs launch for 2017-2018". girlswhocode. 2017-10-04. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  19. ^ McGrath, Maggie. "Exclusive: Dr. Tarika Barrett To Succeed Reshma Saujani As Girls Who Code CEO". Forbes.
  20. ^ "Girls Who Code's Dr. Tarika Barrett: 'Be brave and keep going'". TheGrio. 26 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Law Firm Awards 'Girls Who Code' Founder".
  22. ^ Tiku, Nitasha (3 February 2015). "Teenage coders behind Tampon Run take their feminist game to the App Store". The Verge.
  23. ^ "Cracking the Gender Code in Computing - Accenture and Girls Who Code". www.accenture.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  24. ^ "Cracking the Gender Code - Research from Girls Who Code & Accenture". girlswhocode. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  25. ^ "Girls Who Code Debuts App -- THE Journal". THE Journal. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  26. ^ [the largest computer science program for girls in the U.S.! the largest computer science program for girls in the U.S.!] Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ^ "Girls Who Code Releases Digital Visual Album Celebrating Sisterhood, Empowering Girls". Girls Who Code. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  28. ^ "TikTok announces support for Girls Who Code". TikTok. Retrieved 2019-06-15.

External links[]

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