The first Computer Club for Girls, was launched at Lourdes Secondary school, Cardonald, last month and has proved to be a hit with the 15 pupils who’ve joined.

Aimed at girls aged between 10 to 14, the club provides a fun way to learn and use computers. The hope is this will encourage more young women to take up careers in IT.

Ten schools are taking part in the project in Glasgow. The weekly, after-school club is aimed at first year pupils who have a choice of activities including interviewing, photography and researching as well as IT skills and procedures.

Support has come from J.P. Morgan and Govan Initiative’s Gender Initiative Programme, the latter paid the school’s annual fee for registration. With increasing numbers by the end of the year, it is hoped the fee will be covered by the Scottish Executive.

David Clymie, Computing Teacher at Lourdes who teaches the girls, said, ‘We are delighted with the help of Govan Initiative and JP Morgan without whose help we would not have been able to set this up. The kids are really happy and are having fun while they are learning, which is really important.’

Rachel Gaughan, 12, told the LOCAL NEWS, ‘I really enjoy everything about this course. But the best thing has been researching to find out about Cascada the pop singer, because we have to write about a celebrity. It was fun and useful.’

Louise Jackson, 12, enjoyed learning how to interview people, which was one of the first exercises.

Currently, women account for only 15 percent of the Scottish IT work force. By showing a more exciting and appealing aspect of the IT industry through the school clubs, this will hopefully attract more young women to the sector.

Stephen Morrison, Project Co-ordinator at Govan Initiative said, ‘This programme has been very successful. It has allowed us to work in partnership with JP Morgan and local schools to give IT learning opportunities to girls who would not normally be able to experience them, or who would not otherwise recognise this industry.’