about gtc
At Girls Teaching Girls to Code (GTC), we empower college girls pursuing Computer Science and Engineering to connect with local high school girls and inspire them through mentorship and applied projects.

Over the years, we've introduced over 1,800 high school girls (and counting!) to the world of Computer Science and Engineering. Our annual Code Camp is an all-day, immersive program, which starts with an introduction to programming and continues with an array of elective topics to which students can apply their new CS skills. We also host several smaller events throughout the year, including workshops, puzzle hunts, and company tours, to help students continue exploring this exciting field.

our vision

A world in which every girl feels confident to develop into the woman she wants to be.

our mission

Inspire girls to pursue futures in technology by connecting them to relatable mentors.​

origin story

Our original pitch (2012)
In Fall 2012, the idea for Girls Teaching Girls to Code was pitched for the "Empower Women and Girls" contest, hosted by Good Maker. After winning a majority vote from the community, we were awarded a small grant to kick start our idea.

​Later that academic year, Heidi, Jessie, Bonnie, and Caroline (our founders) successfully launched our first Code Camp (the original idea submitted for the contest) at Stanford, bringing together 120 high school girls and 30 Stanford mentors. 

gtc board

Over the years, GTC has gained a ton of momentum, capturing interest from students, parents, teachers, and corporate sponsors across the Bay Area. In 2018, Heidi, Jessie, Emily, and Ambika (leaders from the first 4 years of GTC) got together and decided to expand the program and create even more positive impact on girls across the nation. We serve as a connective thread between our college and university chapters, and we provide support for each of our chapters to put on the best events for their respective communities. We launched the Berkeley chapter in 2019, and we're working on more now - stay tuned!
Heidi Chao
President
Jessie Duan
Vice President
Emily Tang
secretary
Ambika Acharya
Treasurer