Free program for schools in Switzerland
AWS GetIT
Amazon Web Services (AWS) GetIT is an education program and competition designed to inspire and empower all young students to learn how to use tech and the cloud to solve real-world problems, explore different types of tech careers, challenge stereotypes, and meet professionals in tech. AWS GetIT and RightsTech Women are collaborating to bring the program and competition to schools across Switzerland.
Bring AWS GetIT to your school
Applications from Swiss schools are now being accepted for the 2022-2023 academic year, for students aged 12-14. Please complete the AWS GetIT application form to be considered for the program.
How does AWS GetIT work?
AWS GetIT enables students to think about their futures and design an app that makes real, tangible social change within their school and community. Throughout the program, students will build experience working in teams and gain self-confidence, all while being exposed to technology as a potential career. AWS GetIT is divided in three pillars:
Engage and Inspire
AWS GetIT introduces students to the program and the cloud with a kickoff presentation at their school and introduction to the cloud sessions. The kickoff presentation and introduction sessions introduce students to the AWS GetIT, the cloud and how it’s used everyday life, a variety of technology career opportunities that exist, and design thinking.
Learn and Play
Students form teams to start learning and practicing technical and human skills in bootcamps. In their teams, they will spend time designing an app idea to solve a problem in their school or community via hands-on interactivities, games, and simulations, while being supported by their ambassador.
Design and Present
Continuing the work created in Learn and Play, students will have the option to continue to explore their app ideas to create a project submission for their country-wide AWS GetIT competition. Project submissions will be considered for the semi-finals and finals competition where the teams present to a panel of industry experts.
In Switzerland, AWS GetIT begins in the school’s fall term and runs for six months during the academic year, starting from September 2022 onward and running up until March/April 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RightsTech Women?
RightsTech Women (RTW) is an innovative nongovernmental organization based in Geneva that works for gender-equitable STEM education and employment by 2030. It does this through research, advocacy and technology capacity building. RTW uniquely combines human rights and technology training. Founded in 2018, RTW has been recognized in the global 2021 WSIS Prizes as a Champion in Category 1 (The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development), and as a Finalist in the category of Leadership in Technology in the 2020 Equals Awards at the United Nations’ International Telecommunications Union.
Learn more about RightsTech Women from this video: https://youtu.be/b7kcx8wSq-4.
What is AWS?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform, offering over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—are using AWS to lower costs, become more agile, and innovate faster. AWS is an Amazon.com company.
Learn more about what cloud computing is from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxT233EdY5c&t=2s
How much does AWS GetIT cost to participate?
The program is fully funded and is available at no cost for schools, educators, and students.
Does my school have to participate in the competition?
No, this is optional for all schools.
Who are ambassadors and what is their role?
AWS GetIT Ambassadors are underrepresented in tech minority professionals from Amazon or AWS teams and customers who are passionate about inspiring the future generation of inclusive and diverse tech leaders. Each school participating in AWS GetIT is paired with an AWS GetIT Ambassador. During the program, ambassadors introduce AWS GetIT to the students via a kickoff presentation and assist student teams with their competition submissions; and provide ongoing support to ensure educators and students get the most out of their experience.
Who can participate in AWS GetIT?
AWS GetIT strongly encourages every school to ensure participation is inclusive and representative of the population at the school, with at least 50% of program participants being girls and underrepresented minorities. AWS GetIT wants to welcome all individuals to ensure promotion of equitable knowledge sharing of the opportunities in the technology, and to challenge the gender stereotype within the industry.
AWS GetIT is committed to building a culture of inclusion by intentionally featuring underrepresented in tech minority professionals as ambassadors, inclusive language throughout the program materials, and recommendations on how students can ensure equitable collaboration as they design their app ideas.
I am a Special Educational Needs school. Can we participate in AWS GetIT?
Yes! We can support your school by making adjustments and providing additional support via telephone calls and video calls during the program.
How many schools can participate?
In Switzerland, AWS GetIT is open to approximately 12 schools for the 2022-2023 school year.
Are there any benefits after completing AWS GetIT?
Students that complete the program are considered AWS GetIT alumni. Alumni students and returning schools receive additional AWS GetIT opportunities and experiences to help foster students’ interest in a future career in technology. Alumni students are invited to attend Mentoring Events a year after they finish the program to receive mentorship opportunities at schools from tech professionals. During the mentoring events, alumni students can ask tech professionals about how they started their career in technology.
Where can I send my additional questions?
If you have any questions about AWS GetIT:
Learn more at: https://aws.amazon.com/campaigns/aws-get-it/.
Contact our team at: schools (at) rightstech.org.
We look forward to receiving your application!