If you live in the South West, identify as female and want to learn to code but have lacked the confidence to get started – now’s your chance!
“Once attendees have finished the tutorial, they will have a simple, working web application”
Django Girls, a worldwide initiative aimed at introducing women who have never coded before to the world of technology and increasing the diversity within the industry, is headed to Cardiff’s Python Conference – PyCon – this October to offer a free introductory workshop in Python, Django, HTML and CSS. But be quick, applications to attend close on 23 September!
Workshop organiser Ann Barr tells us: “Once attendees have finished the day’s tutorials, they will have a simple, working web application – their own blog. Attendees will also be shown how to put it online, so others will see their work.”
Meet the coding community
The day-long workshop is due to take place on Thursday 26 October but, best of all, all Django Girl attendees will also receive a free ticket to PyCon (27 – 29 October) so they can put their new found skills to the test, learn even more and meet others from the South West’s coding community.
“Free tickets to the rest of the PyCon UK conference is a very real benefit for attendees at this particular Django Girls workshop”
Ann adds: “Free tickets to the rest of the PyCon UK conference is a very real benefit for attendees at this particular Django Girls workshop. The rest of the programme includes a wide range of talks, workshops, clinics and posters for beginners and seasoned Pythonistas. Plus a range of ‘water cooler’ opportunities to engage, communicate and learn from other professionals.
“Attending a workshop aimed just at women and beginners helps reduce the scariness of taking that step out of your comfort zone.”
Python power
And for anyone baffled at the sheer number of coding languages available and which is best to start with, Ann explains: “Python is widely considered to be a good starting language for any would-be coders as it has a very simple and consistent syntax and a large standard library.
“Django Girls is very keen for volunteers to get involved and run workshops in their local area”
“Its simplicity allows new programmers to concentrate on important programming skills such as problem solving and data type design. Python is also the language taught in school computer science courses and has a large, friendly, international community.
“Python was used to create the Django web framework which is a free, open-source framework which has been publicly available for more than 10 years and is used to develop a wide range of big and small web applications.”
Teach coding
Of course, if you’re not a coding newbie but still want to get involved, there are plenty of other ways to do so.
Ann says: “Django Girls is very keen for volunteers to get involved and run workshops in their local area. Only a small number of workshops have been held to date in the UK and none in the South West. We hope that attendees will be inspired to spread the word with their own local communities and perhaps organise a workshop.”
If you’re keen to head to the Django Girls workshop at PyCon, head to the Django Girls application page. If you’re up for volunteering at this workshop, or running one of your own, you can apply on the Django Girls website. You can also stay informed with Django Girls’ events by following them on Twitter here: @djangogirls.
To find out more about PyCon, head to the PyCon website or follow them on Twitter here:@PyConUK.
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