Up to 100 students from secondary schools across the city will be part of a unique event on Thursday and Friday (28 and 29 November), which shines a spotlight on the importance of coding and how it can give youngsters a head start in life.
Organised by the city council and iamtheCODE, the event’s aim is to empower students, particularly girls, from all backgrounds into careers in the ‘STEAMED’ sectors – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship and Design – and help address the shortage of these skills.
Across the two days, there will be a variety of topics covered including coding, app building, data analysis and designs around sustainable development goals. Speakers will talk about their experience of the industry and mentors will be on hand to guide the youngsters through the data-filled world.
The best ideas which will come out of the two days will be developed and supported through local programmes, with the help of iamtheCODE, mentoring and further activities with partners in the UK, Asia and Africa.
It is the brainchild of Senegalese-born British technologist Mariéme Jamme. Mariéme works tirelessly to encourage young women to take up coding – a skill she taught herself after a turbulent childhood which saw her raised in various foster homes and trafficked as a young prostitute to Paris.
She recognises the importance and power of learning this skill, and aims to enable one million females globally to become coders by 2030. iamtheCODE is direct action towards implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to improve economic outcomes for women.
For more details, head to www.iamthecode.org. Follow @i_amthecode (Instagram/Twitter), @iamthecode (Facebook).
The event forms part of the city’s RISE programme which celebrates extraordinary women. For the latest information about RISE, visit www.riseliverpool.co.uk, or follow @Rise_Liverpool on Twitter and Instagram. RISE is funded by Arts Council England. Other partners include the University of Liverpool, Weightmans, The Women’s Organisation, Blackburne House, Northern Power Women, Merseyside Women of the Year, The Girls Network and the Mayoral Club.
Cabinet Member for education, employment and skills, Councillor Barbara Murray, said:
“This is an incredibly important event and I’m delighted Mariéme and her team have chosen Liverpool youngsters to empower and educate.
“We want to do as much as we can to help our young people thrive in this digital age, and the Hackathon will do just that. It’s about setting them up for academic success – they will learn problem-solving skills as well as develop critical and creative thinking, which will then set them up for their future careers.
“Mariéme is hugely inspirational – to have such a harrowing start to life and to then turn it round to become one of the most recognisable names in the coding sector is hugely impressive. I’m sure the students taking part this week will learn some invaluable lessons which will set them up for a successful future.”
Mariéme Jamme said:
“At the end of the two days, amazing young students will build innovative solutions related to the Sustainability Development Goals, get inspired, be included and have lots of fun.”
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