Girls Who Code expands free programming to Canada, the organization's first international market, to help close the gender gap in technology
The non-profit is opening clubs within grassroots organizations, education departments and libraries across Canada with the support of Morgan Stanley
TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2018 /CNW/ - Today Girls Who Code, a non-profit working to close the gender gap in technology, announces its expansion into Canada, the organization's first international market. Girls Who Code is dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology by teaching young girls the basics of computer science. The organization has reached 90,000 girls in the U.S. since launching in 2012 and hopes to expand to 100 Clubs across Canada during its first year. Schools, libraries, universities, and other non-profit organizations can apply now to start a free Club in Canada at ca.girlswhocode.com.
Girls Who Code is launching in Canada with its signature Clubs program with generous support from partner Morgan Stanley; and its first community partner, the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries, which intends to launch at least 10 clubs across the province. Clubs is a free after-school program designed for girls with a wide range of computer science skills between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. In Clubs, girls engage in fun and simple online coding tutorials, build community through interactive activities, learn about inspiring role models in tech, and work together to design solutions to real-world problems facing their communities.
"At our core, Girls Who Code is a community dedicated to empowering girls with the confidence, support, network, and technical skills they need to change the world," said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code. "We're looking forward to complementing existing efforts to tackle the gender gap in technology in Canada—where the landscape is very similar to the U.S. And we're thrilled to announce our expansion at the Move the Dial Summit."
According to a 2017 report from McKinsey Global Institute, women make up 47 per cent of the overall workforce in Canada, but only 23 per cent of the STEM workforce. At the current rate of growth, Canada's gender gap in technology could take as long as 140 years to close.
"Morgan Stanley is proud to support the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program in the US, and we are excited to help the organization expand internationally," said Robert Rooney, Head of Technology at Morgan Stanley. "We are committed to training the next generation of women technologists through these types of partnerships, which inspire young girls to pursue an education in STEM."
Girls Who Code college-aged alumni are majoring in computer science and related fields at a rate of 15 times the U.S. national average. In Canada, the McKinsey Global Institute study found that while more than half of university graduates are women, less than a third of women graduate with degrees in STEM.
"We're confident that in partnership with the local community, our unique gender-specific approach and focus on engaging girls earlier in the pipeline will help increase the number of girls entering university-level computer science programs and ultimately the number of women pursuing computer science careers in Canada," Saujani went on to say.
To learn more about Girls Who Code, visit: ca.girlswhocode.com.
Social media links
Twitter: twitter.com/girlswhocode
Instagram: instagram.com/girlswhocode
Facebook: facebook.com/GirlsWhoCode
YouTube: youtube.com/user/GirlsWhoCode
About Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is an international non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. Through their programs, they are leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip young women with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. Girls Who Code has reached over 90,000 girls in the United States since starting in 2012. To join the movement or learn more, visit ca.girlswhocode.com.
About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.
About Morgan Stanley Technology Centre
Morgan Stanley's Technology Centre in Montreal was established in 2008 and has since grown to become one of the Firm's largest technology hubs, employing more than 1,500 technologists.
SOURCE Girls Who Code
For additional information and media interviews, contact: Jamie Gillingham, Eighty-Eight, PR Manager, [email protected], 647.490.1507
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