Git Commit Uruguay: Lowering barriers to make software development more inclusive and diverse

Hands-On Git: A New Pilot Aims to Widen the Tech Talent Pool

GitHub's Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DI&B) efforts are focused on removing the hurdles that keep people from entering software development. A new pilot program, Git Commit Uruguay, was launched with the goal of introducing GitHub and open source to students from underserved communities in Montevideo.

Course Design and Instruction

The initiative was driven by GitHub CELA's Diversity and Inclusion Committee and supported by Microsoft. Over 60 high school students and recent graduates from one of the city's lowest-income neighborhoods took part in two custom-designed courses. The curriculum centered on practical Git and GitHub fundamentals, including working with Git commands, creating repositories, checking repository status, structuring a Git project, making commits, and creating branches.

Breaking Down Language Barriers

Recognizing that language can be a significant blocker to learning, the program brought in two Spanish-speaking instructors: Luis Sanchez, an education and community manager based in Mexico, and Gustavo Lizarraga, a University Champion from Bolivia. Their presence allowed students to communicate comfortably with their teachers and keep the focus on the technical skills.

By the end of the program, each student had built and deployed their own website in the cloud. Beyond the coding itself, students left with a personal GitHub profile and a tangible portfolio—assets that give them concrete evidence of their abilities when pursuing jobs in the tech sector.

A Milestone Celebration

Completion was marked, fittingly, at the prestigious Uruguayan Laboratory of Technology. The final ceremony drew more than 200 attendees in a show of support for the graduates. The event featured a keynote from GitHub's VP of Product, Mario Rodriguez, who shared personal stories emphasizing the importance of courage and perseverance.

Building on Momentum

The program's impact is open-ended. Organizers report that the students gave as much as they received, and efforts are already underway to secure internships for participants. The intended destination is Montevideo's new AI and IoT Insider Lab—a landmark facility that is the first of its kind in Latin America and the third outside the US—once it opens its doors.