Women Who Code launches Houston chapter

International Women's Day celebrates the women's rights movement but it also is a time to reflect on the work that needs to be done to support gender equality. A new group in Houston is trying to do just that in the technology sector.

Women Who Code is an international non-profit organization with chapters in more than twenty countries. On Tuesday, it officially launched a Houston chapter. The local chapter has seven directors including Silver Ehiwario.

"In 2017, I found out my love for being creative, trying to put my thoughts into codes and see businesses use it so that it would make them grow," Ehiwario told FOX 26 News.

Silver is excited to share that passion for coding with other women. She recently switched careers from chemical to software engineering after enrolling in a coding boot camp with the University of Texas. Now, she works as a software developer at UniverseIT in Sugar Land.

Ehiwario hopes she can help other women looking to transition into the tech sector.

"Houston is actually a great community," added Ehiwario. "You have a lot of tech people here Houston."

In February, Smart Asset ranked Houston the fifth best city for women in tech in 2019. However, it reports only 26 percent of tech jobs in the city are filled by women.

Women Who Code Houston expects to do everything from seminars to one-on-one mentoring.

"If you love technology go for it," concluded Ehiwario. "If you need the resources or the community to inspire you, join Women Who Code."