This was a half-day workshop...

...hosted by the University of Canterbury, the spotlight was on empowering young women through programming. Organized by the university's ‘Women in Tech Society’ (WitSoc), the event aimed to enhance participants' programming skills and inspire them to explore careers in technology. 

The workshop kicked off with a guided session on using Python to tackle programming puzzles, setting the stage for what would be an interactive and enlightening experience. Attendees, including Eleasha Chan and Elme Pieterse from Year 12, along with Jade Akinbo, Charlotte Lim, and Nadya Anggawijaya from Year 11 at Middleton, dove into collaborative team activities. These involved solving a series of intricate puzzles akin to those found in competitive programming. 

Beyond honing their coding prowess, the girls had the opportunity to engage in discussions with WitSoc representatives about the field of Computer Science and the diverse career paths available to women. Addressing the industry-wide concern of underrepresentation, the workshop aimed to equip young women with awareness and encouragement to consider pursuing opportunities in technology. 

By fostering a supportive environment and hands-on learning, the University of Canterbury's WitSoc initiative continues to play a crucial role in empowering the next generation of female technologists. Through events like these, they hope to not only bridge the gender gap in tech but also inspire young minds to embrace the exciting possibilities within the field.