Social enterprise tech company Kippie, in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen, announced today that applications are now open for places on the Girls Make Games courses in Derry-Londonderry and Belfast.
Girls Make Games is an educational programme designed and led by Kippie to inspire the next generation of designers, creators and engineers and aims to address the gender imbalance in one of Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing creative tech industries.
Open to girls aged between 10 and 13, the free, after-school, eight-week-long course introduces students to the skills needed to make their own computer games. Through a mixture of classroom and practical learning experiences, the students will learn how to use Gamemaker, a free 2D game engine, and how to use illustration software, Procreate, on an iPad. The course will also include talks from local industry experts alongside tours of game development studios.
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Following the success of the courses in Derry-Londonderry in 2021 and 2022, the programme is now being extended to students in Belfast.
Katherine Rowlandson, Co-Founder of Kippie commented: “ It is with a great sense of pride that we announce the continuation and extension of the "Girls Make Games" programme. Feedback from the students, as well as their parents and guardians, tell us that it has helped shape their skills profile and encouraged them to consider a career in the gaming industry. The classes focus on hands-on learning, trying things out, building confidence, making new friends and most importantly having fun.”
David McConnell, Education and Careers Manager at Northern Ireland Screen said: “As part of our new four-year strategy, Northern Ireland Screen is committed to future-proofing the skills pipeline of the creative industries. Working with local companies like Kippie to enhance the provision of the Girls Make Games courses will raise awareness of the opportunities that exist in our local games sector."
"It will inspire the next generation to consider a career in gaming and other creative industries. Games skills are future skills, as skills covered in the course include programming, design, team working and presentation, all of which are transferable. We will continue to work with Kippie to improve access to games education for those from underrepresented groups that provides a much-needed stepping stone to our range of careers and work experience programmes.”
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The Girls Make Games programme is supported by a local industry professional Holly Johnstone from Hypixel who welcomes the continuation of the project. She said "Kippie have been a great partner in growing the local games scene in Northern Ireland. Their Girls Make Games course is providing opportunities to diversify the future of gaming while helping young people to realise their potential. The ability to learn valuable skills in a safe and rewarding environment is reflected week on week by cultivating confidence in the group. Kippie are an inspiration both locally and to the games industry as a whole."
Parents or guardians of interested parties can apply for the course here.
Source: Written from press release
