CompuGirls CyberSecurity Fall Camp

CGEST is excited to announce the success of the 2020 CompuGirls-Hawai’i launched on October 17th, 2020. Through the collaboration between CGEST, the University of Hawai’i, and Cyber Hawai'i, a virtual camp was created and implemented. The program supported nearly 50 Hawai'i based High School girls. They use a culturally responsive framework for implementing curriculum as an introduction to cybersecurity and IT. This culturally responsive framework provides professional development seminars for teachers and a cultural consultant who ensures an atmosphere supportive to the diverse students. It helps students to develop IT and cybersecurity to reflect their own interests, communities, and cultures.

The program persisted despite disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic; the sudden shift to virtual education shed new light on the importance of the CompuGirls cybersecurity’s goals. One of the goals is to challenge disparities in education particularly for girls of color. Additionally, Manda Tong, a cyber security specialist with the University of Hawai’i, notes that the importance of this program has only increased with the rise of the pandemic. Adapting to the new environment has meant becoming more dependent on technology. Teaching technological skills and digital literacy to Hawai'i based adolescent girls is a necessary skill for the next generation as the world integrates technology into education and professional fields. Not only will it affect them today but throughout their future.

In the next five years, 250 girls will be exposed and mentored in cybersecurity. This will potentially bring a new wave of leaders into the cybersecurity community.