CAMBA Girls Who Code

Organizations like Girls Who Code exist to empower and challenge young women to imagine themselves in places they couldn’t before.

CAMBA commits to sending young people to college and into careers that will allow them to gain economic security. While today’s student is offered a wide variety of professions to pursue, students can be unaware of or even discouraged from considering work in fields that seem out of reach. For girls looking to break into the male-dominated fields of science, technology and engineering, the future can be daunting.

Fortunately, organizations like Girls Who Code exist to empower and challenge young women to imagine themselves in places they couldn’t before. Through CAMBA’s partnership with the nonprofit, young women from our Collegiate Express and School for Democracy & Leadership programs have been introduced to the world of computer science, and they are doing amazing things.

This summer, for the second year, CAMBA will send students to Girls Who Code’s Summer Immersion Program where they have the opportunity to work alongside girls from all over the country to explore computer science and use it to enhance their lives.

The work they accomplished in their summer learning serves as a powerful reminder to girls that they belong in traditionally male-dominated fields, and that they have something important to offer.

Among last summer’s favorite activities with Girls Who Code was an app creation project designed to cultivate responsibility. The project linked caring for an electronic pet dog with responsibilities like waking up on time for school or getting good grades. Positive activities on the part of the student resulted in feeding their pet dog or giving it a treat. Hitting the snooze button too many times, however, earned them a grumpy dog that didn’t want to play. Fortunately, getting a good grade on a test could restore the relationship.

The creation of the app and its purpose demonstrate interest on the part of the girls in learning aspects of computer science and making it relevant to themselves and their peers. The work they accomplished in their summer learning serves as a powerful reminder to girls that they belong in traditionally male-dominated fields, and that they have something important to offer.

All of last summer’s participants are eager to learn more, thanks to assistance from the staff of Collegiate Express; one student even plans to minor in this field in college.

CAMBA’s Youth Development programs provide youth with many more such engaging, educational experiences that prepare young people for college and the workforce. Along the way, the students have also taught us lessons in determination and resiliency. We’ve asked them to try all types of new things, and they’ve excelled. The future is in good hands.

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CAMBA connects New Yorkers to opportunities through its dedicated staff, who are trained to provide solutions to the biggest challenges of life in New York. Visit CAMBA’s 40^thAnniversary website and join us in our 2020 Vision Campaign to provide services to young people throughout the city.