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Computer Science Communities — Django Girls

26 de março de 2023

Why communities matter

In this post, I want to share my journey with programming communities, especially the role of Python and Django Girls in my professional and personal growth.

Community events gave me knowledge, friendships, opportunities, and the certainty that technology is more than code — it’s people.

First contact with Python & Django Girls

During my degree in Systems Analysis and Development at IFRS, I had almost no contact with Python until 2017. That year, I discovered an event in Porto Alegre — Django Girls.

It was there that I built my very first blog from scratch, for free, and realized Python could be used across business, science, and web development. Even more important, I met inspiring people who expanded my perspective on computer science, the job market, and how programming could be taught differently.

Learning through community

From that moment, my involvement in the Python community grew.
I learned that programming education could be didactic, inclusive, and fun — not the rigid and intimidating way it was often presented in college.

The biggest lesson: people are more important than technology, even in times of AI and automation.

2018 — growing with Django Girls

In 2018, I participated in four Django Girls events across Rio Grande do Sul.
Each one taught me that programming could be approached in different ways, and that community initiatives are key to breaking stereotypes about who belongs in tech.

At the same time, I was finishing my degree and starting my first job as a junior developer. Balancing work, studies, and my Data Science final project (Python, Pandas, Spark) was tough, but the community gave me the support and motivation to keep going.

First professional steps

My first work experience was in web development, especially e-commerce.
I learned JavaScript, worked on storefronts, platforms, payments, and cloud infrastructure. The demand for web developers was — and still is — huge.

What made the difference was understanding how to add value to the business, not just code. And here, again, communities were essential: sharing knowledge, learning from peers, and staying connected to real-world challenges.

Organizing Django Girls Porto Alegre (2019)

In 2019, I helped organize Django Girls Porto Alegre.
It was an amazing experience that showed me the power of inclusive, well-supported events.

We had media coverage (TV, radio, newspapers), a large venue, childcare, expert mentors, and companies supporting diversity in tech. Hundreds of people were impacted, directly or indirectly — proof that community work can transform perspectives and open doors.

Communities during the pandemic

With the arrival of the pandemic in 2020, in-person events stopped. But virtual communities adapted and kept growing.
After three years, it’s clear: tech communities are resilient. They reinvent themselves, embrace diversity, and continue to make knowledge more accessible.

Today

I’m proud to still be involved in communities such as PyLadies and WTD.
These groups create welcoming spaces, empower minorities, and strengthen the belief that the future of technology must be inclusive and diverse.

Useful resources

✨ My main takeaway: being part of a community is not just about coding — it’s about people, values, and building an inclusive future together.

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