Free BridgeSTEAM weekend in Larnaca invites girls to try tech
Girls aged 14 to 16 can join two days of workshops, career talks and meetings with women in STEAM at UCLan Cyprus in Pyla on December 5 and 6, with no coding background needed.
Girls between 14 and 16 can spend the first weekend of December trying out programming, digital skills and problem-solving at UCLan Cyprus in Pyla, as the free BridgeSTEAM programme comes to Larnaca for its sixth year. The organisers, Girls in STEAM Academy, have scheduled both days from 9am to 6pm, with no prior coding knowledge expected of participants.
Beyond the workshops, those taking part will meet women already working in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, and will look at university courses and career routes. Sessions also cover communication, teamwork and confidence, and group work links science to social challenges and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
The push comes as Eurostat figures for 2025 put women at only 19.5 per cent of ICT specialists in the EU, against 80.5 per cent for men. Girls in STEAM Academy, a non-profit of the Be an Ally Foundation set up in 2021, argues that stereotypes and a shortage of visible female role models shape study choices long before university; over 320 girls have completed its programmes so far, with graduates joining an alumni network and some going on to TechGirls exchanges in the United States or the SheSpeaks podcast.
What it means for residents
For families on the island, this is a rare free option that puts teenage girls in front of working professionals without demanding any preparation or equipment beforehand. The catch is timing: the sign-up window is short and the places are unlikely to last.
- Act before November 25. Applications for the Larnaca weekend close on that date and are made online.
- Spread the word. Schools, teachers, career advisers and parents are being asked to tell girls who might gain from the two days.
- Expect more than a weekend. Graduates can stay connected through the alumni network, which opens further educational and professional doors in Cyprus and abroad.
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