A project by Ramacrisna Institute, supported by Criança Esperança, aims to include girls in situations of social vulnerability

Mainly dominated by men, the technology area is also a place for women. And they are the protagonists of “Girls in Web”, the project that aims to include girls in situations of social vulnerability through the use of innovation and creativity by holding workshops on Technology, Programming and Robotics. Launched by Ramacrisna Institute and financed with resources from Criança Esperança, in addition to technology activities, there will be sports and cultural activities such as dance, chess, judo, among other sports. The goal is to serve 278 girls, aged between 6 and 17 years.

The Ramacrisna Institute formed, yesterday, May 4th, the first group of the “Girls in Web” Programming and Technology Workshop. Eighteen girls were the protagonists of the event, showing that now it’s their turn in the technology and innovation market, still dominated by the male gender. The project aims to include girls in situations of social vulnerability through the use of innovation and creativity when carrying out workshops in Technology, Programming and Robotics. Launched by the Ramacrisna Institute and financed with resources from Criança Esperança, “Girls in Web” also promotes sports and cultural activities such as dance, chess, judo, among other sports. The goal is to serve 278 girls, aged between 6 and 17 years.

By the end of the year, 60 girls will be trained in this course, which provides 200 hours/practical and theoretical classes in programming, robotics, application development, among others. Classes are taught at Ramacrisna FabLab, with access to state-of-the-art equipment such as 3D printers, virtual reality glasses, CNC Laser Cut Router, tablets, computers and lego kits for the practice of Educational Roboticsl.

“I learned a lot in the workshop about applications, software and computer networking. This knowledge will be fundamental to the achievement of my dream, which is to live abroad. The technology area is very promising”, says Gabrielle Loregian, 14, one of the participants in the project..

Teenager Júlia Vitória Pires, 13, is also grateful for the opportunity and praises the initiative for showing that the technology area is not just for boys. “Women are standing out too. We are already many in this sector”, she says, who praises the high level of the workshop. “We had access to the best content and cutting-edge equipment without paying anything. A course like this is very expensive. I could never pay.

Registration is now open for the second group, aimed exclusively at girls aged 14 to 17 who live in the surroundings of the Ramacrisna Institute. The other activities are restricted to students participating in CAER (Ramacrisna Educational Support Center).

About the project – The “Girls in Web” project aims to promote the digital inclusion of young women living in Betim, in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte. “Young women in vulnerable situations are virtually excluded from the tech industry due to the social and gender challenges they face on a daily basis. However, the number of students interested in technology courses demonstrates these girls’ confidence and competence in qualifying, helping to demystify the argument that they do not get a prominent place in the sector. On the contrary, they are more observant and efficient in this role”, says the vice president of the Ramacrisna Institute, Solange Bottaro..

According to Solange, the opportunity offered to these girls, who live in a rural area of ​​the city of Betim, opens up horizons that can lead them to a bright future. “The commitment and resourcefulness in learning make it very clear that the investment made through the Girls in Web project and the trust placed in them by the Ramacrisna Institute was successful and a pilot project that will be replicated at other times”, she says.