About - Hackergal

OUR MISSION

Inspire girls across Canada to explore the opportunities in code.

Our vision is to change the face of computer science and pave the way for a technology industry that is diverse and inclusive of girls and underrepresented groups across Canada.

Hackergal uses an inclusive definition of “girls” and “women.”

We welcome the participation of all learners who identify as girls. This includes trans girls because we recognize trans girls are girls. We also welcome the participation of gender-fluid, non-binary, and two-spirit learners.

Though girls are interested in STEAM, significantly fewer of them expressed belief in their abilities compared to boys.

A recent study found that only 22% of girls name technology as a favourite subject in school. When asked how good they would be at a STEM job, far fewer girls (24%) thought they would be good at the role compared to boys (43%). The impacts of these early influences persist throughout a woman’s life, with far-reaching economic and societal consequences.

SOURCE: Women in STEM Careers, Where we are in 2023, Ranstad

%

of girls would consider tech jobs in the future.

THERE’S JUST ONE PROBLEM

Girls are Being Left Behind…

Long held societal beliefs about women’s roles, discrimination in the workplace and lack of opportunity discourages girls from pursuing computer science. In the past 30+ years, the percentage of women working in STEM has barely changed. In 1987, women represented 20% of the STEM workforce, today they still only represent, 23% in Canada.

^{SOURCE: McKinsey & Company}

Women in STEM Fields

%

1987

%

2019

IT’S NOT TOO LATE

Hackergal is Changing this Bleak Landscape

After our hackathons:

%

of girls became more interested in computer science industry after participating in our Hackathons.

%

of girls really enjoyed our Hackathon!

Hackergal fosters girls and gender diverse learners’ natural curiosity for STEAM throughout the K-12 experience, and gives them a safe space to learn, explore and build their confidence.

OUR WORK & VALUES

At Hackergal, we are guided by our values: equity, education, and community. These values are integrated into our programs, services, and approaches; they are truly the foundation of everything we do as an organization.

EQUITY

We recognize, respect, and honour the strengths and perspectives of all individuals and are committed to fostering safe and inclusive learning environments

EQUITY in action at Hackergal:

Hackergal programs and events, such as our annual Hackathon, are inclusive of individuals with diverse gender identities, backgrounds, and learning needs
The Hackergal Hub increases access to coding education for those who are underrepresented in the technology field
Our Ambassador Program empowers a diverse cross-section of Canadian girls to become leaders and change-makers

EDUCATION

We are passionate about engaging our community through knowledge sharing, digital skills development, and continuous learning, as technology continues to transform our everyday lives.

EDUCATION in action at Hackergal:

We are committed to providing a wide range of learning opportunities to students across Canada, both online and in-person
We empower and inspire educators to make an impact through our workshops, curricula, and resources
Our Hackathon and Ambassador Programs provide non-judgemental spaces for students to learn new things, experiment, and grow their skills

COMMUNITY

We achieve sustainable change through collaboration with learners, educators, facilitators, parents and partners who share our mission. Together we are closing the gender gap and building a community that empowers every girl to see a future in technology.

COMMUNITY in action at Hackergal:

We host the largest Hackathon for girls across Canada, bringing together learners and educators from every corner of the country
Our Ambassador Program teaches girls how to be leaders in their own communities, giving them the tools and mentorship to create a grassroots movement
We strengthen our impact by partnering with community organizations, particularly those working with Black, marginalized and Indigenous girls across Canada