Saumya Rawat is a soon-to-be senior at Dallas' School for Science and Engineering. While most students spend their summers taking a break from studying, Saumya will be encouraging other girls to learn.
"When I was in seventh grade, my parents, they enrolled me in a Java camp," Saumya recalled. "I was the only girl there."
Saumya wants to change that.
"I feel like we're breaking the stereotype. More girls are going into S.T.E.M., but there still aren't enough," she said.
S.T.E.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The disciplines have traditionally attracted more men than women.
"I want to break those gender barriers," Saumya said. "This is something I want to do. I like it, I should be able to do it and do it freely. No one should be restricting me."
It's a passion that Saumya turned into her school "passion project."
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She got a grand to offer a free three-day "IT Empowerment for Her" camp for middle school girls.
"Hopefully by the end of the three-day program they will be able to make their own apps to help impact their community," Saumya said. "So that kind of exposure, we're hoping will interest them to go toward this field and to seek other opportunities and seek that support and backing to encourage them to keep going in this field."
IT Empowerment for Her is offered July 25 through July 27. It is free. For more information click on this link.
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