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Women in tech

Learn Code. Lead. Inspire.

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Breaking barriers for women in tech with free education programs.

Women in Tech teaches young Canadians data science and web development skills, which prepare them to launch careers in the world’s most influential industry. IDRF is committed to eliminating barriers for young women interested in the digital space who cannot afford the expensive costs of Tech education.

All of our programs are entirely free to those accepted.

IDRF is currently not offering its introductory courses.

Training for her future

We envision a future where women lead in tech innovation, inspired by pioneers like Ada Lovelace and Joanna Hoffman. Since 2018, our Women in Tech program has trained 150 women in coding and data science, awarding 45 scholarships for advanced bootcamps.

Bootcamps

Introduction to Web Development is a 45-hour course designed for beginners that connects new coders to the world of HTML, CSS+, and Javascript. Our instructors are all program alumni working as Full Stack Developers. They teach with empathy, and participants are encouraged to ask questions and learn at their own pace.

On the final day, students present a final project they have completed using their coding skills. In addition to class instruction, we allocate time for one-on-one mentorship sessions that help participants navigate complex problems.
After finishing the introductory course, some decide their dream job is to work as a web or app developer! IDRF offers a limited number of full-paid scholarships for participants to complete a 12-week intensive Web Development Bootcamp at Lighthouse Labs- one of our collaborative partners. Students build upon their foundational skills and learn to use React JS, Ruby on Rails, SQL and many other programming languages.

Upon completion, graduates have developed the skills to start careers as junior developers. Most of our alumni secured full-time positions within 90 days of graduating.
Participants in this 40-hour introductory course will learn the basics of the discipline, focusing on the fundamental concepts of Structured Query Language (SQL) and Python. Participants will wear their data scientist “hats” as they work on practice sessions and two mini-projects throughout the course.

Our instructors for the Data Science course were also alumni and are excited to work with participants who may be entering the world of data science for the first time!
Following the Introduction to Data Science course, there is an opportunity for participants to complete Lighthouse Lab’s 12-week intensive Data Science Bootcamp, with a limited number of full-paid scholarships. Students will work on data visualization, machine learning, statistical modelling, data engineering, Jupyter Notebook, and Tableau.

At the end of the Bootcamp, graduates will receive a diploma and can begin their careers as Data Scientists!

Our Supporters

Women in Tech started as a pilot project in 2018, thanks to the generous support of the United Way Greater Toronto as part of its Inclusive Employment strategy, which aims to improve employment opportunities for low-income individuals facing multiple barriers. Since our initial project, UWGT has provided an annual grant to fund our coding courses and provide wrap-around support for child care, mental health care, transportation and housing.

After four successful years in Toronto, IDRF has expanded Women in Tech to Alberta!

Thanks to the support from The Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada Access Innovation Fund, the program is now available for women ages 18-29 in Calgary and Edmonton.