Written by Students Esha Ram and Dana Dagelet

This year, my friend Dana Dagelet and I founded the Girls Tech Club at Waitākere College. We created this club because we believe that students at our school -especially young women need a safe space to engage in group activities and discussions about STEM passionately.

Our mission is to inspire a brighter and more digital future for girls. We aim to challenge misconceptions about the tech industry and empower the next generation of women to pursue careers in STEM through competitions, events, mini-projects, and more.

Women are significantly underrepresented in tech fields, and empowerment is crucial to bridging this gap by encouraging more women to pursue technology. We strive to make tech classes, especially male-dominated subjects like engineering and digital technologies, more inclusive for women. We have noticed a troubling trend of more girls dropping these subjects each year and fewer women feeling comfortable pursuing tech as a career. Empowered women can challenge systemic biases and barriers that have historically marginalized them in the tech industry. We hope to see more girls gain the confidence to join these classes and explore them further, even if just for their personal growth and enjoyment.

In just one term, our club has grown to 22 official members who regularly attend meetings and actively engage in our events. We currently have a small team working on a project for the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition. This project involves using Microbits and electronic components to develop an automated plant watering system and a rubbish organizer. 

We welcome new members anytime! Every Wednesday at Lunchtime in A5 or after school on Mondays. Come along If you are interested in tech, robotics, or computer science, and want to engage with these topics more.

We would also like to thank the teacher in charge, Mr Semmons, for giving us the opportunity, resources and space to follow through with our club.