Ladies Learning Code

Ladies Learning Code, now a program of Canada Learning Code, is a federally registered charitable organization in Canada promoting collaborative, technological learning among women and youth. It seeks to close the gender gap among those adept at technology by offering courses and workshops to empower and educate women.
History
Founded in 2011 by Heather Payne, Melissa Sariffodeen, Breanna Hughes and Laura Plant, the organization's first workshop was held in Toronto. After this, they began hosting monthly workshops.
In August 2011, they began an expansion of these workshops across Canada, establishing chapters first in Vancouver and subsequently in more than 18 cities across Canada. To date, the organization has held 2,228 educational events since August 6 of 2011 as well as a total of 12,425 volunteers among all of the programs. They have also expanded programs to educate a larger number of adults and youth including Girls Learning Code , Kids Learning Code , Teens Learning code, and Teachers Learning Code. Their permanent workspace is located at The Lab in Toronto.
Participation
Ladies Learning Code has attracted roughly 17,500 participants and held over 600 events such as workshops and courses since 2011. This program seeks to provide adults with the opportunity to learn technological skills such as HTML and CSS, Python, and Ruby. In addition, students can also learn web design techniques and familiarize themselves with online blogging sites such as WordPress. These events are open to all adults, regardless of prior experience with or knowledge of course material.
Canada Learning Code claims a 4:1 ratio of students to volunteer mentors in each of the five programs, which allows them to learn through a more personalized experience and individual attention. Scholarships for select events are available to those in need of financial assistance.
Program of Canada Learning Code
Launched in early 2012, Girls Learning Code teaches female-identified, trans, and non-binary youth from the ages of 3 to 12 technological skills through workshops, camps, and other events. In Toronto, hundreds of girls have participated and the program is expanding to new cities across Canada.
Teens Learning Code offers those too old for Girls Learning Code yet too young for Ladies learning Code a program that is tailored to teens. It is open to female-identified, trans, and non-binary youth ages 13-17 and teaches various technological skills such as webmaking, gamemaking, and even app inventing. Of the 42,700+ participants that attended workshops and learning events in 2017, 93.4% in Ladies Learning Code and 78.9% in Kids/Girls/Teens Learning Code programs identified as female. Canada Learning Code plans to expand their work to include other groups currently underrepresented in tech, including rural/remote, indigenous communities, and persons with disabilities.

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