BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
CRESSKILL — By 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs available in computing-related fields and U.S. graduates are on track to fill 29 percent of those jobs. But, women are on track to fill just 3 percent. Girls Who Code is determined to change those statistics.
Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization that aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science. They do this by creating computer programs for girls in grades 6 through 12 that are hosted in libraries, schools, universities, religious facilities and non-profit organizations.
Girls Who Code runs summer programs that teach computing and programming skills to high school girls. During the academic year, Girls Who Code programs teach high school girls computing skills like programming, robotics and web design, with sessions including projects and trips to companies like Twitter and Facebook.
Girls Who Code was founded by Reshma Saujani in 2012. Saujani came up with the idea of creating the organization during her run for the U.S. Congress, when she noticed that schools along her campaign route lacked girls in computer science classrooms.
Saujani was distressed by the fact that that in the tech industry there is a bias against women. Saujani participated in a TED Talk where she spoke about the consequences girls face in their future if they don’t start taking risks.
“Girls are raised to be perfect, while boys are raised to be brave,” she said.
Suajani not only talked the talk, she walked the walk by creating and catapulting Girls Who Code into the public arena. Her organization began with 20 girls in New York and it now has 40,000 girls in 50 states. By December 2014, 3,000 students had completed a Girls Who Code program, 95 percent of whom have gone on to major in computer science in top universities, such as Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford and Brown.
There are now over 150 Girls Who Code clubs across America and the organization aims to teach 1 million girls to code by 2020. It is the largest computer club for girls in America.
Saujani’s efforts to close the gender gap has resulted in several honors and affiliations. Girls Who Code has recently partnered with Accenture to work on the future of tech and with Dell Technologies to support its after school programs for young girls. Girls Who Code has also announced they will be releasing an app in the Apple App Store.
Girls Who Code has picked up major sponsorship from software and technology companies, including AOL, Google and Microsoft. In August 2014, they received a $1 million contribution from AT&T.
Girls Who Code comes to Cresskill
Beginning this past April, Girls Who Code was launched in the Cresskill Public Library. The program’s instructor, Maria Khan, is a native of Pakistan, where she majored in computer science. After coming to live in the United States 4 years ago, Khan attended and graduated from Lascomp Institute in Hackensack, where she enhanced her knowledge of computer software systems and service, and computer instruction and training.
Khan has been volunteering her time and expertise to teach a Girls Who Code group every week, and she expects to continue the program throughout the year. Khan specializes in teaching students how to build websites and design Facebook pages. Her classes are small and often one-on-one, maximizing the teaching experience.
“I learned a lot of great things,” said Caitlin Chin, one of Khan’s students. “It is really helpful to me and it has inspired me to become a professional computer tech.”
Khan believes that her Girls Who Code class is enhancing her own skills, as well as her students’. When she teachers computer science, Khan said it refreshes everything in her mind.
She is also adamantly in favor of turning out more female computer techs.
“When girls learn to code, they become change agents in their communities and the world,” she said.
The success of the Girls Who Code program here in Cresskill is a microcosm of the impact that the program is having nationwide.
It is not surprising, then, that 65 percent of club participants say they are considering a major or minor in computer science because of Girls Who Code.
The Girls Who Code program has made amazing progress. Just a few short years ago, the organization was founded with a simple mission: to close the gender gap in technology. Now, it’s not just aiming to close the gender gap in technology – it’s doing it throughout the United States, and with rousing support from the leaders in the industry.
