Youth coding groups in the U.S. and Canada were both able to further their missions thanks to charitable donations by two CompTIA Communities. Girls Who Code and Code for Kids each received $5,000 from the IT Services and Support Community and the Canadian IT Business Community, respectively. Each year, CompTIA’s Communities and Councils make donations to IT-related charities. Money for the donations comes from the Creating IT Futures Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CompTIA.
Code for Kids
Code for Kids is a Canadian not-for-profit teaching a STEM curriculum to a generation growing up in a technologically advancing society. The program offers workshops to teach children 7 to 13 the basics of coding, technology and design. Each event has a different focus so children can find out what they’re interested in. Code for Kids encourages natural curiosity and creativity by giving children the skills they need to explore the digital world.
"Technology is in the hands of our children at younger ages than ever before. However, IT education, training and coding are often not presented to them until high school or later,” said Kevin Hiebert, chair of the Canadian IT Business Community and the member who found Code for Kids and recommended it for a philanthropic donation in Canada. “Nonprofit organizations like Code for Kids help fill this gap by holding workshops for youngsters to learn computer programming, and broaden their appreciation of their tablets and smartphones beyond gaming and messaging tools.”
The first Code For Kids event — a Scratch event aimed at kids aged 7 to 12 — was held in April 2013, and the program continues to offer a niche untouched by traditional education: A hands-on chance to explore the depths of technology and design.
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is working toward gender parity in computing fields, which they believe is paramount to ensure the economic prosperity of women, families and communities across the globe.
“The ITSS community believes that by supporting Girls Who Code we can be a part of creating a better future workforce for women in technical roles that far exceeds the current 25 percent,” said Colleen Howley, vice president of business development for Marathon Deployment, a member of the ITSS community.
The program also works to equip citizens with the 21st century tools for innovation and social change. “We believe that more girls exposed to computer science at a young age will lead to more women working in the technology and engineering fields,” according to the organization’s website.
While working to inspire, educate, and equip girls with computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities, Girls Who Code aims to provide computer science education and exposure to 1 million young women by 2020.
With the help of educators, engineers, and entrepreneurs, Girls Who Code has developed a new model for computer science education, pairing intensive instruction in robotics, web design and mobile development with high-touch mentorship and exposure led by the industry’s top female engineers and entrepreneurs. Since it launched in New York in 2012, the program has expanded its summer immersion program to eight offerings in five cities nationwide. Building on that success, Girls Who Code Clubs branched to schools, libraries and community-based organizations across the country.
“It’s a wonderful program and vehicle for young women to enter the technology industry,” said Angel Pineiro, senior vice president of services for ASI Integration Services, and the U.S. chair for ITSS.
Michelle Peterson is a communications specialist for CompTIA.
