We love Code Clubs! Girls have fun while learning valuable computer skills

A whole new world of possibilities has opened up for Blessing Wanjiku – thanks to Code Clubs.聽

The 10-year-old comes from a Kenyan community with limited access to computers.聽But she and her friends have been going to innovative coding classes for girls at Makena Primary School.

国产视频淚 like Code Clubs because it helps me have access to technology,” said Blessing, a student in class four. 国产视频淲ith Code Clubs I can play games with different challenges and push myself to complete the challenges. I learn more and I have fun doing it.国产视频�

Learning while having fun is key to the success of 国产视频’s聽Code Clubs in four聽sub-Saharan African countries and Lebanon.聽To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science today, we are celebrating the achievements of the clubs and their students.

国产视频 developed the low-cost model of safe, sustainable and scalable Code Clubs, where girls can learn to code, foster creative thinking and increase important knowledge and skills for the future.

The first was launched on International Women国产视频檚 Day in 2016 and there are now clubs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Lebanon, run in partnership with other organisations.

Laura Lombardo, Project Manager at 国产视频, said: 国产视频淭he work that we have been doing in partnership with these amazing INGOs, foundations and tech hubs has been very promising.聽

“It has been incredible to see the girls – most of whom had very little or no knowledge of and exposure to technology – being so enthusiastic and engaged throughout the length of the course.

“We have seen great improvements in the girls国产视频� knowledge of coding, their confidence, critical and creative thinking.”

Narrowing the gender gap is a key aim of Code Clubs. So far, more than 800 girls have been introduced to coding through them.

All the girls and young women – who are divided into three age groups from six to 25 – get a course of 26 two-hour lessons from a qualified female teacher. They learn how to build a Kano kit computer and are taught basic coding skills through apps like Scratch, Make Art and Make Music, as well as games such as Make Snake and Minecraft.

Vanessa Wangari, a 12-year-old who also goes to Makena Primary School, said: 国产视频淭he thing I love doing most is drawing and watching cartoons. I used to wonder how cartoons are made till the Code Clubs came along.聽

“Girls all around should have access to technology to help them have a better future.国产视频�

The Kenyan Code Clubs are run in partnership with Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF).聽Maya Kigen, a YTF master trainer at Makena Primary School, said: “We aim to utilise technology innovatively to equip, empower and inspire young girls to learn, challenge themselves and solve problems in their communities.”

They met resistance at first from the girls’ families.聽

“Stereotypes, myths and misconceptions revolving around the society about girls affected the programme kick-off,” said Maya. “We spent time convincing most parents as they didn国产视频檛 believe in the potential of the girl child.”

Brenda Nduta, a 17-year-old at Huruma Girls High School, had a similar experience with her family and community.

“国产视频淲hen I informed my mum about the dream of pursuing a tech-related course, she discouraged me,” said Brenda. “I almost gave up but then I was chosen for the Code Clubs programme.

“Coding is one of the most fun things I国产视频檝e done in life and it has helped me to plan for my future career.国产视频�

In Tanzania, there are six Code Clubs in three locations – run by BRAC聽Maendeleo Tanzania through its聽Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents (ELA) programme.

ELA project manager Nancy Kataraihya said: 国产视频淲e saw the need for girls in school to be brought up to speed with issues related to technology and encourage their participation in STEM (science, technology, enginereing and mathematics).

“We are having girls eager to learn computers and obtain transferable skills that they may put to use in their everyday life.”

Mwanaidi Ibrahim, a 15-year-old who goes to the club in Dodoma, said: “In Code Clubs, I like to type in some stories, I like reading, I like going on the internet.”

Jessica Festo completed the programme in Tanzania’s Mbeya region last year. She said: 国产视频淲hen I started learning the programmes, I was so excited – because I didn国产视频檛 know how to play games. Eventually I could play games. I also learnt how to draw using the Kano kit.聽

国产视频淲hen I finished the class I was confident with navigating around the internet.国产视频�

国产视频’s Code Clubs in Tanzania are funded by the global technology group Voith.聽

The Code Clubs in Uganda are run by Women in Technology. Nakitende Leiticia said: 国产视频淭hey give us the opportunity to train, inspire and empower young women to think creatively about tech careers.聽We are unapologetic about working with girls because it’s the only way we contribute to achieving our mission.聽

国产视频淥ur girls are taught and empowered about leadership through the group work ensuring that each member of the group is held accountable for the success of the group.

国产视频淏ut the fun element of Code Clubs is as important as the educational aspect. Fun sparks creativity, loosens tension and fear of codes, leads to young people opening up easily and sharing their experiences.国产视频�

The Code Clubs project in Zimbabwe聽will soon be launched in Harare, thanks to the partnership between 国产视频 and the Muzinda Hub, the impact investment initiative of the 聽Econet telecommunications group.

Vimbai Gwata, Head of Muzinda Hub, said: 国产视频淭o ensure that Zimbabwean women become more active participants of the digital economy, Muzinda Hub is taking proactive measures to expose young girls from under-resourced communities to basic coding and computer literacy training through our collaborative partnership with 国产视频.国产视频�

国产视频’s Code Clubs in Lebanon are funded by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.