The Institute of Coding (IoC) hosted its first CTRL Your Future event in London on Saturday 2 November.
Partnered with 3D fashion collective DIGI-GXL, IoC ran the free event as a safe space for 16–18-year-old womxn, non-binary people and trans people to learn more about digital careers and education.
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The event was split into two sections; bookable workshops on coding, AR, fashion activism and creating digital face filters, and a panel talk with womxn representatives from the tech industry.
Panellists included digital experience creator Damara Ingles, brand strategist Charlene Prempeh, and future technologies lecturer Libby Heaney.
DIGI-GXL founder Cat Taylor said: “Young people often do not have the support needed pursue tech learning and there are a lack of role models in the industry, so we were excited to create an event that was hosted by people who attendees could relate to and show them the opportunities that are available to them through the CTRL Your Future campaign, powered by the Institute of Coding.”
The event also included a Digi Zone, which acted as an open space for all attendees, and prioritised womxn, non-binary people and trans people who are interested in creative tech and the digital arts.
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The IoC has also partnered with social enterprise Stemettes to host a series of events with career site Monster, entitled Monster Confidence. The events aim to explore the value and experiences of diversity in STEM careers, and will be taking place in London, Peterborough and Teesside.
More information on the IoC and upcoming events is available at https://instituteofcoding.org/ctrl-your-future/