Ladies Learning Code will be at Parliament Hill to mark Science Odyssey Week and launch their newest and biggest initiative - the code:mobile. The code:mobile is Canada’s first-ever traveling computer lab on wheels, which will drive across Canada this summer to inspire and empower Canadian youth to not only use technology but to create with technology and become our future innovators.
“Today’s event highlights the growing importance of digital literacy for Canadians. Organizations like Ladies Learning Code are helping to teach Canadians, in particular young women, the necessary skills to succeed and become passionate builders of technology,” said the Hon. Kirsty Duncan, the Minister of Science. “These types of hands-on experiences with technology transform the way youth engage with computer science and lay the foundation for future pathways to discovery and innovation.”
In partnership with Microsoft Canada through its YouthSpark initiative, the code:mobile will bring hands-on, interactive technology education to an estimated 10,000 kids from May to September 2016, travelling approximately 35,000km coast to coast, visiting over 22 Chapter cities. Ladies Learning Code believes that computer programming and other technical skills are tools of empowerment, and it is their mission to ensure that all Canadians - particularly women and youth - have access to these learning opportunities.
“The code:mobile is our big bold move to inspire the next generation of technologists,” said Laura Plant, Ladies Learning Code’s Co-Executive Director. “Since its inception in 2011, Ladies Learning Code has held over 600 workshops and events and reached over 24,000 learners across the country and we keep wanting to push that impact. In May, we announced a goal to teach 200,000 Canadian women and youth to code by 2020 and the code:mobile will help us make a big dent in our goal.”
Ladies Learning Codes is a national organization with 29 Chapters across Canada that provides beginner-friendly computer programming workshops to people of all ages and gender, has growing youth programs – Girls Learning Code, Kids Learning Code and Code:Mobile.
“Microsoft is pleased to support Ladies Learning Code’s code:mobile initiative to take coding to communities across Canada, especially to young people who, otherwise, would not have access to computer science education,” said Dennis Lopes, Corporate, External and Legal Affairs Lead at Microsoft Canada. “At Microsoft, we believe all young people should have access to computer science education so they can develop the computational-thinking and problem-solving skills that are critical for their and Canada’s future.”
To learn more about the code:mobile or request a visit, check out www.codemobile.rocks. Help spread the word on Facebook and Twitter using #codemobile.