WHO ARE GIRLS INTO CODING?
And why do we do what we do?
Girls Into Coding is a not-for-profit Social Enterprise and Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to increasing girls’ participation in TECH & ENGINEERING by providing hands-on events, activities, and opportunities for girls to connect with other women in Technology & Engineering.
To discover more about us (the founders of Girls Into Coding, mother and daughter Avye Couloute and Helene Virolan), read our story.
AVYE COULOUTE
Founder of Girls Into Coding
Hi, I’m Avye and I’m a 18-year-old maker and coder with a mission to get more girls involved in Tech & Engineering. I started coding and attending physical computing workshops at 7. I’m very active in the tech and maker community, dedicating a lot of my spare time to exploring and learning about technology & engineering.
I lead regular robotics, physical computing and engineering workshops at our Girls Into Coding events. I’ve won competitions with the robots, which I design and make. I demonstrate my Tech projects to the public including international events, write blogs, won Tech & Eng competitions, fundraise to supply girls with physical computing kits & books, design – develop & make robots & kits used at my events.
I’m enthusiastic about sharing my skills and experiences with others. I am on a mission to directly engage at least 10,000 girls per year with workshops, including coding, engineering, robotics, physical computing, and 3D printing/3D Design. I have designed and developed several educational kits and tech projects.
I advocate for diversity in the tech sector and believe you are never too young for your ideas to have value.
I want all girls to feel empowered to access opportunities to develop their making and digital skills regardless of where they come from.
MY MISSION – GETTING MORE GIRLS INVOLVED IN TECH & ENGINEERING
I believe that it’s important for girls and women to see and be aware of ordinary girls and women doing cool things in the STEM world. I’m on a mission to create stimulating opportunities and events to engage girls to consider further STEM activities, studies and careers.
After repeatedly observing that the majority of attendees at my workshops were boys, I was determined to encourage more girls to give STEM a go. So, I decided to set up a series of events targeting girls. I came up with the idea of ‘Girls Into Coding’. These events offer girls aged 10-14 an opportunity to explore coding, engineering, physical computing and robotics. With my mum, we reach out to other female role models in STEM careers, inviting them to give lightning talks at Girls Into Coding events.
Awards
- 2026 Winner of the Inspire Her Future‘s Element14 Community Award – Pro/Educator Category
- 2026 Winner – STEM Educator Award – SheCanCode Not-For-Profits in STEM Education
- 2025 Winner of the Amy Johnson Inspiration Award – the Women’s Engineering Society
- 2025 Social Impact of the Year – Plus X Innovation Changemakers Awards
- 2025 STEM Engagement Social Enterprise of the Year 2025 – Acquisition International Non-Profit Organisation Awards 2025
- 2025 STEM Education Initiative of the Year – Corporate LiveWire
- 2024 Open:UK 2024 Awards Winner – Young Person Category
- 2024 Awarded a Rooke Award Highly Commended recognition by the Royal Academy of Engineering
- 2024 Awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship
- 2024 Winner of the Tech-Not-For-Profit of the Year 2024
- 2024 Young Digital Leader of the Year Award Runner-up
- 2023 Highly Commnended – Women’s Champion -Social Enterprise Awards 2023
- 2023 Winner of The Royal Academy of Engineering Excellence Awards 2023 for Outstanding Pupil
- 2023 Recognised as part of the Computing Rising Stars 30 by Computing, a list of the UK’s most talented young tech professionals in 2023
- 2023 – Finalist in the Students category of Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards
- 2023 – Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award
- 2023 – The Big Issue Changemaker for 2023 – Education
- 2022 – UK Young Engineer of the Year 2022
- 2022 – The National Lottery Young Hero of the Year
- 2022 – Winner of the Amazing Maker Awards in the Science Fair Category
- 2022 – Forbes 30 Under 30 – Class of 2022 – Social Impact
- 2022 – WeAreTheCity Rising Star Award Winner – Technology category
- 2022 – Winner of The Global Youth Awards – Empowerment Category
- 2022 – Rotary Young Citizen Award
- 2022 – Natwest 2022 Wise100 UK’s Top 100 women in social enterprise, impact investment, and mission-driven business
- 2022 – 2022 Honours List – OpenUK
- July 2021 – Girls into Coding – Tech4Good People Award
- In March 2020, I was announced as the joint winner in the FDM 2020 everywoman in technology awards, in the “The One To Watch” category.
- In October 2020, I was named by Women in Robotics among the “30 women in robotics you need to know about”!
- In November 2020, I was announced as one of the winners of the Tech Women 100 Awards.
- In December 2020, I was announced as the winner of the Women In Tech Aspiring Teen Award by The Women In tech Global Movement Organisation.
- In July 2019, I was honoured with a 2019 Princess Diana Award for my work to create new opportunities for young people, girls in particular. In November 2019, I was awarded the prestigious “Legacy Award” in memory of Princess Diana. I was one of just 20 young people from across the world to receive the award, the highest recognition a young person can achieve for their humanitarian efforts.
- At the end of April 2018, I won the hardware category at the Coolest Project UK with my voice command robot – Voice O’ tronik Bot.
- In July 2018, I was named as one of the ten most Inspiring Juniors in the UK. The Inspiring juniors competition was launched to celebrate the publication of a new novel, Project Prep, with the aim of finding girls with a passion for technology, who are role models for others.
- In November 2017, I won the ‘best working device’ for the Micro: bit 1st Birthday Challenge & my robot was exhibited at the Bett Show in January 2018.
I have accrued a unique set of experiences and achievements, which has allowed me to become a visible young female role model. I demonstrate my STEM projects to the public, including:
- international events
- leading regular STEM workshops
- writing blogs
- designing, developing & making kits to be used at my “Girls Into Coding” events
- participating in other public events such as The Mobile World Congress Barcelona in 2019 & Microbit Live 2019 event
- Part of the Global Youth Judging Panel- Judge at the 11th RoundTable Global Youth Awards 2023
Based on the success of Girls Into Coding, we now want to scale up to reach more girls and to run the events more frequently.
HELENE VIROLAN
Director of Girls Into Coding
Hi, I’m Helene, and I’m Avye’s mother. I have a keen interest in STEM education and a business/Edtech background combined. I’m very passionate about engaging more girls with tech opportunities and encouraging continued girl involvement in coding and tech, helping to address the female underrepresentation and gender-based discrepancies in STEM education and occupations.
I’ve lived, studied and worked in many different places, such as Guadeloupe (my native island), Paris, Philadelphia, Hawaii, Tahiti and London, which remains my favourite city!
I’m passionate about improving access to and sharing the benefits of technology, facilitating and imparting key digital skills to the young generation.
Awards
Winner of the Natwest Female Focus Competition, #BeTheRoleModel -April 2021
My Passion & Expertise
I love new technology and am curious about how things work. I wish the days were longer so that I could spend more time exploring the vast world of Tech! I also enjoy travelling and reading. I like tinkering with Raspberry Pi, Microbit and the Adafruit circuit playground express. I’m very fortunate that my daughter Avye and my husband Phil share the same interest.
We do things with passion, we have fun, and together we are a team!
I’m an accomplished and resourceful professional with hands-on experience in project and operations management and relationship building. I have had repeated success in devising new business strategies, organising, promoting, and delivering high-quality coding and tech events for young people, providing mentorship in coding, facilitating tech workshops, managing accounts, and improving processes.
I’m capable of administering budgets, completing projects within a given timeframe, building amazing teams, and engaging a community.
I have proven expertise in Building strong relationships, Project Leadership, Managing budgets Managing & promoting Tech Events Partnership management Community management Operations & Process Management Digital Marketing, Social Media, Copywriting & Content Marketing, SEO, Google Analytics & Google Ads, Online Media Advertising
GIRLS INTO CODING AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
- Winner – Inspire Her Future Award – Pro/Educator Category – Element 14
- Winner – STEM Educator Award – SheCanCode Not-For-Profits in STEM Education
- Winner of the Amy Johnson Inspiration Award – the Women’s Engineering Society
Social Impact of the Year 2025- Plus X Innovation Changemakers Awards
The Plus X Innovation Slough Changemaker Awards celebrate Slough’s community heroes, innovators, and businesses, shining the spotlight on a year of remarkable achievements.
We are so proud to have been recognised as The Social Impact winners and couldn’t have done this without the incredible community, partners, and everyone who believes in our mission!
Artists First: Contemporary Perspectives on Portraiture – The National Portrait Gallery
Avye and Helene have been selected as Community Changemakers and are featured in the Artists First: Contemporary Perspectives on Portraiture exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
As part of this groundbreaking exhibition, artist Giana De Dier has created a stunning series of photomontage portraits celebrating changemakers from Britain’s African and Caribbean diaspora who are making a difference in their communities. We’re so honoured to be included in her work, which highlights stories of impact, innovation, and inspiration.
The Artists First program brings together contemporary artists who are reimagining the boundaries of portraiture, connecting past and present histories, and amplifying untold narratives. It’s humbling to see our journey with Girls Into Coding recognised in such a meaningful way, alongside so many other inspiring individuals.
A huge thank you to the National Portrait Gallery, Giana De Dier, and the CHANEL Culture Fund for supporting this incredible project –
Artist First: Contemporary Perpspectives on Portraiture, and making this moment possible.
The exhibition runs until August 2026 at the National Portrait Gallery in London . Click here to explore here the portraits on display
STEM Engagement Social Enterprise of the Year 2025
STEM Engagement Social Enterprise of the Year 2025 – Acquisition International Non-Profit Organisation Awards 2025
STEM Education Initiative of the Year
STEM Education Initiative of the Year – Corporate LiveWire
Open:UK Awards 2024 Winner
Open:UK Awards 2024 Winner – Avye Couloute – Young Person Category
Girls Into Coding – SME News Business Elite Award
Girls into Coding is one of the 2024 winners of the SME Business Elite Awards.
Avye C – Rooke Award Highly Recommendation
Avye was awarded a Rooke Award Highly Commended recognition for her work in promoting STEM careers to girls and young people through Girls Into Coding.
Avye C – Arkwright Engineering Scholarship
Avye was awarded a brilliant Arkwright Engineering Scholarship! It is a prestigious programme that recognises and supports young engineers and technologists.
We are delighted to be awarded the Tech Not-for-Profit of the Year 2024 Award!
SheCanCode- Tech Not-for-Profit of the Year 2024 Award
Avye is delighted to have been named Young Digital Leader of the Year Award Runner-up
Avye Couloute-Young Digital Leader of the Year Award Runner-up 2024
Avye is delighted to have been named ‘highly commended’ in the Women’s Champion category at the UK Social Enterprise Awards.
The Awards recognise the very brightest stars in the social enterprise sector, so we feel honoured to have our work recognised
Avye Couloute-Social Enterprise Awards 2023 -Highly Commended
Avye was announced as the WINNER of the Royal Academy of Engineering Excellence Awards 2023 for Outstanding Pupil, organised by The Design and Technology Association
Avye – Winner of The Royal Academy of Engineering Excellence Awards 2023
I am honored to be a part of the Global Youth Judging Panel this year and have the privilege of being a judge at the 11th Round Table Global Youth Awards. The dedication of young individuals from around the world to making a social impact has truly inspired me.
Avye – Official Judge Global Youth Awards 2023
Avye has been recognised as part of the Computing Rising Stars 30 – a list showcasing the UK’s most promising young tech professionals in 2023
Avye – Computing Rising Stars 30
Avye has been shortlisted for the UK Social Enterprise Awards which attracted more than 400 entries from all over the country. Awards recognise sector-leading excellence and innovation across a diverse range of criteria, and she is a finalist in the “Women’s Champion of the Year” category. Winners will announced in November 2023.
Read more HERE
Avye – Finalist Women’s Champion of the Year 2023
Avye’s Air Quality Pavilion Named Finalist in the Students category of Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards
Read more: https://bit.ly/41X1cYC
Short video of my project: https://youtu.be/7XPvCWeeRP8
Avye – 2023
Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award
Avye – 2023
I have been awarded the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award for my work to empower more girls through Tech
The Global Youth Awards 2022 Winner- Empowerment Category
Avye – 2022
The National Lottery Young Hero of the Year 2022
Avye – 2022 Young Hero of the Year 2022 – The National Lottery
Amazing Maker Awards 2022 – Science Fair Category
Avye – 2022 Amazing Maker Awards in the Science Fair Category
WeAreTheCity Rising Star Award-Technology category -2022
Avye – 2022 https://wearethecity-risingstars.com/avye-couloute-girls-into-coding/
Runner Up– Merton Best Business Awards Commitment to The Community- 2022
Forbes 30 Under 30 – Class of 2022 -Social Impact
Avye – 2022 https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2022/europe/
2022 Rotary Young Citizen Award
Avye
2022 Natwest #WISE100
Avye – 2022 Natwest WISE100 UK’s top 100 women in social enterprise, impact investment, and mission-driven business
Runner Up 2021 – Merton Best Business Awards The Extra Mile
Diversity & Inclusion Champions for 2021 – Great British Entrepreneur Awards
Finalist 2021 – Great British Entrepreneur Awards – Family Business
Finalist 2021 – Tech4Good Award – Community Impact
REACHING GIRLS TO GIVE THEM MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN STEM
Two years ago (since 2018), I helped Avye, who is a maker, coder and a strong advocate for girls in tech and gave her all my support to set up “Girls Into Coding” – a social enterprise that aims to get girls involved in coding and tech activities. My Tech journey with her has been fantastic, and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved together. Working with her made me realise that I wanted to continue this journey and be part of those who are contributing to making a difference, to close the gender gap in the tech industry.
Based on the previous successful “Girls Into Coding” events, I decided to fully commit myself to Girls Into Coding. Early this year, we set it up as a Community Interest Company. Hopefully, this will allow us to reach more girls and offer them more opportunities to develop.