The Kirov IT for Youth Center, within the DigiGirlz campaign, hosts an IT Girls event to inspire girls to embrace technology.
Over 150 girls from schools across Kirov, Russia attended an IT Girls event to explore exciting career opportunities in technology, communicate with IT professionals about real life experiences, and participate in hands-on technology workshops. One of the young girls in attendance, Olesya Shamova, admits she went to the event just to hang out with friends. She had no idea she would truly find her life-calling that day!
At 15 years-old, Olesya has explored a variety of activities. She has taken dance classes, studied foreign languages and attended art school. Despite doing well at each, especially the arts, something was always missing. Olesya was looking for something special.
One of the speakers at the IT Girls event introduced students to the concept of e-textiles. Also known as smart-clothing or smart-fabrics, the medium enables digital components and electronics to be embedded into textiles. The speaker’s captivating seminar, and the idea itself, totally captivated Olesya; she became very eager to learn more. She spent the entire night after the event studying e-textiles and formulating a plan for how and where she could begin personally using the technology involved.
“Why do our Computer Science and Technology teachers never tell us about these awesome things during our lessons?! The combination of art and digital technologies is exactly what I’ve been looking for! It’s amazing!” - exalted the young girl.
Olesya has already organized several fruitful meetings with e-textile specialists and the Kirov IT center trainers; together they are now organizing a truly modern fashion show - one based on the technology of e-textiles!
“I once thought IT was just electronic devices and programming languages located in a realm beyond my comprehension. But the IT Girls event completely changed my attitude to the IT sphere! I now know that it’s my sphere!” – Olesya shares.
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