Innovative Limerick students attend coding boot camp

STUDENTS from Limerick secondary schools attended a coding and app development boot camp at PayPal’s Dublin campus.

Coláiste Nano Nagle and Mungret Community College were among the attendees, representing forward-thinking young women from Limerick.

Girls interested in STEM from around the country travelled to the event on March 20, working with mentors and volunteers from PayPal for the global Technovation competition.

PayPal recently joined forces with Teen-Turn, a volunteer-led organisation and registered charity, which aims to support course decision-making processes, advise on education and career options, and promote the accessibility of STEM career environments for girls from underserved and underrepresented communities. 

Meanwhile, Technovation is a tech education non-profit that offers interactive learning programs in which young people and adults learn how to use technology to solve real-world problems.

Whilst many of the attendees are taking part in this year’s Technovation competition, some of the attendees on the day were from previous years of the competition and presented the apps they have created and the social enterprises they have launched through the Teen-Turn Incubator and Accelerator Program – including the revolutionary farming app, HerdSync and an app to urge environmental action, UNdump. 

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In addition to coding and app development, boot camp participants worked with mentors and volunteers on business plans to support the rollout of their innovations.

Other attendees came from a range of areas and schools across Galway, Dublin, Cork, Mayo, and Clare.

Speaking about the event, Jacquie Murphy, Munster Co-ordinator with Teen-Turn, said: "We were blown away by the number of mentors in attendance to work with the girls on the day! The range of expertise was second to none, as was the warm welcome and friendly atmosphere. The girls were given expert advice, help and encouragement to make significant progress on their apps.

“Working with mentors in the STEM industry, including leaders such as PayPal, gives the girls an opportunity to visualise themselves in those roles in the future. Visiting the campus is an invaluable experience that many girls would not get to do as a second-level student in Ireland. We are incredibly grateful to the team at PayPal for their work on this boot camp visit.”

Siobhan Grogan, Community Impact lead for Dublin, PayPal, added: “We were delighted to host the Teen-Turn Technovation event at our Dublin campus. The talent and potential of the participants were truly awe-inspiring, with their innovative thinking impressing even our most experienced colleagues! Their passion, entrepreneurship, and determination, combined with the incredible support from our employees, made for an unforgettable experience. The future is certainly in great hands with the next generation.”