At the Swiss TecLadies Camp in Brunnen, the participants gained hands-on experience of technology and computer science. The focus was on the fascinating aspects – but also the downsides – of AI, cyber forensics and cybersecurity, the responsible use of social media, hacking, and the inner workings of laptops and smartphones. The aim was to raise awareness and encourage critical thinking. At the same time, the camp aims to inspire more young women to pursue careers in computer science, cybersecurity and technology – thereby helping to tackle the skills shortage and the low proportion of women in these sectors.
"I didn’t really see the point of hacking before. But the more I look into it, the more I’d like to work in this field in the future."
Solvej, participant, aged 14During the session on ethical hacking – also known as ‘white hat hacking’ – the girls learnt how hackers go about their work: for example, how they attack companies and cripple IT systems, but also how to deal with the aftermath and minimise the damage. The participants heard exciting real-life stories during their visit to InfoGuard in Baar.
“We often find that people are reluctant to engage with this topic. Yet the fact is: if you learn early on how attackers think and operate, you’ll be much better placed to protect yourself against them.”
Christina Kistler, Co-CEO of Gobugfree, led the workshop on ethical hacking.The girls particularly appreciated the practical insights into career fields that are rarely covered in regular school lessons. Many were enthusiastic about the wide range of career opportunities and want to dispel the misconception that computer science and cyber security are typically male-dominated professions.
A visit to the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, featuring a workshop on the ‘Climate Challenge’, rounded off the camp programme. The girls not only learnt about key facts and developments in the field of renewable energy; they also discussed possible approaches and solutions and weighed up their implications.
On the final day, the focus was on social media: dos and don’ts, real or fake, and the art of producing meaningful videos. In the afternoon, the young women presented the camp website they had created during the week to their parents, featuring videos, photos and texts covering each day of the camp.
“Many schoolgirls already make extensive use of social media and artificial intelligence in their everyday lives. This makes it all the more important that they understand how these technologies work, what their limitations are, and how to use them responsibly.”
Lena Thun, freelance marketing and social media consultantThe feedback from the participants at the end of the week speaks for itself: “The camp has motivated me to learn more about computer science and technology” – the vast majority of the girls agreed with this statement. This brings us another step closer to our goal of inspiring girls to pursue careers in IT and technical fields.
The SATW would like to extend its sincere thanks to all the partners and supporters who made the camp possible: Organisations: Smartfeld, Gobugfree, Swiss Business Protection AG, InfoGuard, Zurich Cantonal Police, Theresianum Ingenbohl, Hasler Foundation. Individuals: Dr Nadine Stutz, Christoph Hess, Nadja Reisacher, Nils Eckert, Christina Kistler, Jill Wick, Heidi Merl, Lena Thun.
Further camps are planned for 2027. Stay tuned and check the Swiss TecLadies website to find out what activities are coming up.
