February 6, 2023, 10:23 am | Read time: 4 minutes
When asked what they want to be when they grow up, many girls still answer “pediatric nurse” or “veterinarian.” While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s somewhat unfortunate, according to those at Tech4Girls. Often, girls show an early interest in subjects perceived as “boys’ topics,” such as computer science and programming, which could lead to IT jobs, but this interest is rarely nurtured. The project addresses this issue. TECHBOOK supports their important work, and you can read about it here.
Whether it’s as a programmer, computer scientist, or game designer, newcomers to the IT industry have excellent prospects. The demand for skilled workers already exceeds the supply. This is partly because few women work in the field; according to a survey by the job platform “Honeypot,” women make up only about 16.6 percent of IT jobs. To close this gender gap, Tech4Girls (a project of the NGO TechEducation) starts working with girls in elementary school. TECHBOOK supports the organization and provides a closer look at their efforts.
Overview
»IT Interest Belongs in Elementary School
Tech4Girls addresses a primarily European issue. On other continents, girls are already more inclined to enter IT jobs–and scientific careers, for that matter. This can pay off for them, as developers and similar roles typically earn well.
According to Katharina Wohlrab, CEO of Tech4Girls, the reason so few girls in Germany are enthusiastic about technology is due to prevalent gender stereotypes. These “influence what we like, dislike, wear, eat, and say,” she explains, and they become ingrained around age 11. It’s not uncommon for girls to be interested in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) until this age. However, this interest declines rapidly, as studies apparently show. “By age 11, most girls think they can’t do technology,” Wohlrab says–”without ever having tried it.”
Girls Explain That They REALLY Can Be Anything
Wohlrab herself was “a really stereotypical girl.” She never showed interest in IT and was never really shown that it was an option for her. “My parents did say I could be anything,” she admits. But as is apparently the case for 90 percent of children, this is only partially true. At home, girls are rarely encouraged to rethink, and in school, stereotypical prejudices are reinforced. How are they supposed to consider a career in the male-dominated IT industry as a viable option, or even possible? There is a significant lack of female role models.
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Inspiring and Educating – Tech4Girls’ Approach
Tech4Girls aims to inspire girls to become interested in technology so that they consider IT jobs early on. At the same time, they are equipped with the necessary skills to be best prepared for future challenges. This happens where they spend most of their weekdays: in school.
Subjects and Clubs
At the educational institutions with which the project cooperates, Tech4Girls offers clubs for girls starting in the 2nd grade and an elective subject (such as computer science or IT) starting in the 5th grade. The predominantly female coaches come from practical backgrounds. They are often master’s or education students in educational sciences or computer science, but also company founders or professionals in relevant fields. Additionally, guest speakers–the missing role models–are regularly invited to the courses.
The students receive booklets with worksheets and material boxes for offline activities to reinforce or expand their newly acquired knowledge. There is now also a Tech4Girls YouTube channel with educational videos, and an app is reportedly in the works. To have something tangible after completing the course, they receive a certificate.
Measures for Consistent Quality
To ensure consistently high quality in the courses, Tech4Girls conducts training sessions with the coaches and provides them with detailed course plans, which parents can also review. And they do so in large numbers–participants report very high engagement from many satisfied mothers and fathers. Additionally, feedback is regularly collected from the students to question and improve processes if necessary.
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Tech4Girls Needs Financial Support to Grow
The project is currently present in 52 schools in Berlin and Brandenburg, making it the largest club provider in the region. This is possible thanks to project contracts and parental contributions. To continue preparing girls for IT jobs beyond this–including at schools with high financial burdens that need funding–the team urgently needs further support in the form of donations. Around 2,000 euros are enough to teach two courses with 12 girls each for half a year.