CoderDojo CEO Mary Moloney told today’s Inspirefest that the percentage of girls taking part in the popular CoderDojo movement currently stands at 30pc – she intends to grow this to 50pc.
The CoderDojo movement was kick-started in 2011 by James Whelton and Bill Liao with the intention of teaching kids vital coding skills that they weren’t being taught in regular education.
Since then it has grown to a global organistion where every week 35,000 kids in 57 countries learn how to code.
“Kindness is at the core of what CoderDojo is. We approach the subject in a non-curriculum-based way where the child is at the centre of their own learning.
“In this way they learn technology and turn it into an app, a game, a website or a full suite of software that businesses are using.”
Moloney, who became CEO of CoderDojo last year, said that across the 700 clubs there have never been any discipline issues because the kids themselves take charge.
“They are already doing the things that companies aspire to – they are working virtually, across borders – it’s all about virtual teams.”
She said that there is a tipping point coming for the technology industry in terms of greater female participation at a product level and at a leadership level.
“30pc of CoderDojo members are girls – we want to increase that to 50pc.”
Inspirefest 2015 is Silicon Republic’s international event running 18-20 June in Dublin, connecting sci-tech professionals passionate about the future of STEM with fresh perspectives on leadership, innovation and diversity.
