Photo courtesy of girlswhocode.com
Girls Who Code, or GWC, is an international non-profit organization aimed at promoting STEM education for girls, destigmatizing women in male-dominated fields, and closing the gender gap in tech industries. Its founder, Reshma Saujani, created the organization after witnessing the gender gap in computing and STEM classes firsthand. Saujani and GWC’s CEO Dr. Tarika Barrett have cultivated GWC to reach towards those who have been systematically abandoned but still have ambition in tech industries. Right here in Ms. Mulqueen’s classroom, VHHS has its own GWC chapter.
Vestavia’s GWC club is a small, tight-knit group of girls who share a common interest in STEM, tech, and coding. A typical club meeting will look like this: a quick catch-up activity for the whole group, after which the members will select a project of their choice to work on for the bulk of the period, and maybe a sharing session. The projects are often based on one of two coding languages taught in the club: Python and Scratch. Some projects are hefty and may take hours to finish and perfect, so the 30-minute work times give the members some undisturbed community work time. Occasionally on special occasions, they will do non-STEM activities for some much-needed off time. This past week, the members met up to color in cartoon bears in honor of Valentine’s Day and had some snacks. Members say the best part of GWC at Vestavia is getting to be around a group of like-minded people and forming friendships and a close community with them. And of course, there’s the food, who can say no to that?
GWC at Vestavia is only a small player in a much bigger game. The team for GWC international aims not only to spread STEM education to all corners of the world but also to allow children and teenagers to find a community where they know they are viewed as competent. STEM is changing the world as we speak, in terms of education, healthcare, science, the arts, and for the youth not to be able to have a basic understanding of STEM - or opportunity to learn about it- is a reality GWC is determined not to see. Diversity in a previously homogeneous field is another goal; GWC hopes to see all kinds of people in STEM and coding, which is why the program is directed towards girls, although boys are welcome to join as well. That being said, the program focuses on the biases and prejudice girls and young women may face when entering STEM fields and coaches them on soft skills and self-esteem, so that their barriers do not become the reason they shy away from reaching their full potential.
Girls Who Code may have a small number of members here at VHHS, but its significance tells another story. With GWC, a future where all people regardless of age, race, or gender are in STEM looks less like imagination, and more like reality.