Digital girls...
On Friday we've got over 200 girls attending campus for our first Digigirlz day in the UK. For the first time since I've delivered sessions to audiences, I've realised that I don't actually know my audience at all! The planning team have spent the last 2 months pulling strands of the event together (what interests 13-15 year olds, technology wise). We've gone cap in hand to several departments begging for funding (as it's not something that is actually in the budget for this financial year). We've talked to news, journalists, media people to come and inspire the audience and talk about it afterwards, we have a day full of demos, an opportunity to create a marketing campaign (in conjunction with Computer Clubs for Girls). Thank goodness Katie is on hand to corral everyone and keep them in check.
Well why are we doing this? I went to a school that wasn't very progressive. I wasn't permitted to do any of the typical male activities like Technical Drawing, Woodwork or Metalwork and was pushed towards the traditional girly subjects. And yet, because I had a supportive family who allowed me to totally believe in myself, I was encouraged to pursue my dream and went to sea. So I really believe that if girls want to get into technology, then we're not going to discourage them.
Heck, if a 12 year old girl can motivate everyone from the United Nations at their conference (thanks again to Katie for the link) then hopefully we'll be able to motivate and encourage a couple of technically savvy girls who are interested in what technology can do for them.
You never know - there may be the next IT tycoon in our audience - and that's why I believe that it's so very worthwhile doing this...
