ACM-W Koç University Student Chapter Visit to ACM-W UPV and Technovation Girls Comunidad Valenciana
As representatives of the ACM-W Koç University Student Chapter, we had the opportunity to visit our buddy chapter, ACM-W UPV, at Universitat Politècnica de València with the support of ACM-W Europe. During this visit, we attended an official activity connected to Technovation Girls Comunidad Valenciana.
Although the event was held mainly in Spanish, we could still gain a lot from the experience even though we could not follow every detail of the program. We had the chance to observe how an outreach activity for children and young students was organized, how the participants were welcomed, and how the event created an encouraging environment around technology and computing.
We had a chance to attend the award ceremony, which was one of the most impressive parts of the visit. The atmosphere in the room was very positive, lively, and warm. Many families were present, and it was especially nice to see the excitement and pride on the faces of parents as the children went on stage. Although we did not understand Spanish, the applause and the reactions of the families made the excitement in the room very clear.
What we liked most was seeing how young students were encouraged to take part in technology-related activities in a supportive setting. The ceremony was not only a recognition of the students’ projects, but also a celebration of their effort, confidence, and creativity. Seeing this kind of environment in person was inspiring for us as a student chapter. It gave us new ideas about how ACM-W chapters can have an impact beyond university students.
As ACM-W Koç University Student Chapter, we are now inspired to organize a similar activity at Koç University in the future. We would like to create an event where children and young students can be introduced to computing in an engaging and welcoming way, and where they can be encouraged to develop and share their own ideas.
We are very grateful to ACM-W Europe for supporting our travel and making this experience possible. We would also like to thank ACM-W UPV for welcoming us and giving us the opportunity to attend this activity. This visit helped us learn from another chapter, observe a meaningful outreach event, and return with new motivation for future ACM-W activities at Koç University.