Learn to Code Day helping Canadian women break into the world of coding

Sure you can type a text in WhatsApp without looking at the keyboard, navigate Tinder with total ease, and post an Instagram selfie without so much as a break in stride, but when it comes to knowing how these programs work, many people – especially women – are still in the dark. And that can be a huge missed opportunity, both personally and professionally.

Melissa Sariffodeen and Laura Plant have been trying to change the way women think about technology and prove that coding can lead to all kinds of possibilities. Whether it's for career advancements, learning opportunities or just for a good time there is plenty of room for women in this expanding and growing field.

Learn to Code Day, which is being hosted by Ladies Learning Code, is a day of learning and experimentation for women who are curious about the world of coding, and looking to learn more about how to code and what it can do for them.

This beginners’ learning event is being held across Canada on Saturday, September 26 in 22 cities. There is also a live stream being broadcast from Toronto on the group’s Facebook page for those that are unable to attend an event in person

For the day’s event, participants are working through beginner workshops focused on the Python programming language, and learning the best tips and tricks for organizing large sets of data to gather information.

"Python is not necessarily a coding language that someone might use or learn on their own," says Melissa Sariffodeen, Co-Executive Director for Ladies Learning Code. "But it's really a true and common programming language that other programmers rely heavily on. It is very popular and widely used with developers, but people in the public don't always know what Python is. Some people would never even guess it's more than just an animal!"

Women write down their plans for an app at a Ladies Learning Code event. (Ladies Learning Code)

The participants will be using information provided by the Government of Canada and learning how to pick data and manipulate it. Users will gain hands-on learning experience that they may not be able to get in the workplace. It also gives users the confidence to take what they've learned and apply it in their own coding through mentorship.

These events were established to try and promote coding and the IT industry with women across all provinces. Many women in the IT industry find that the male-dominated IT and software development fields can be difficult to find their way in, but with events such as Learn to Code Day, it proves women can be builders of these tools too, not just users.

Sariffodeen says they also believe very strongly that the IT job market is only going to increase from here and that careers in technology are here to stay. She says through learning and coaching we can elevate Canadian women to be the best and brightest in the global job market when it comes to roles within the IT industry.

"We really wanted to spark a movement that promotes women to learn a new skill set and make a big splash in the industry. It's events like these that give women the opportunity to learn and also to lead the way for other women in the IT industry," says Sariffodeen.

Ladies Learning Code also hosts other events throughout the year and the group is already gearing up for their Girls Learning Code Day, which is a parent and child collaboration website building learning event. By attending these events, young girls are encouraged to develop their own IT skills, while parents learn to appreciate the technology, and reinforce it as a positive tool for their daughters instead of a scary dark unknown.

Girls pose as they work on their project at a Ladies Learning Code event. (Ladies Learning Code).

The livestream and information about how to participate in future events, can be found on the groups Facebook page or at http://ladieslearningcode.com/