Nairobi will for the first-time host an international bootcamp dubbed Coding School (CS) which is aimed at equipping future programmers with critical coding skills.
The Coding School is supported by Boeing and is run by ThinkYoung, a Brussels-based organization that focuses on empowering the youth. The two organizations have selected Nairobi as the first African country to host the coding boot camp following successful editions in Belgium and the Netherlands.
This year’s edition will take place between 10th and 14th October in Nairobi and is open to young people aged 11 to 16.
“There are millions of vacant jobs in the IT field, some of which pay as much as $7,000 for internship positions, yet there are high levels of unemployment. This boot camp is meant to give students top-notch skills that meet the global demand for skilled labour in the tech industry and thereby give young people opportunities for gainful employment,” said Andrea Gerosa, Founder of ThinkYoung.
This year, in the 7th edition of the school, ThinkYoung is welcoming more than 60 participants and is aiming for 70 per cent of students will be girls. The event will challenge the myth that coding and IT are skills that only interest boys
Students will learn about creating mobile apps, developing a small blog in HTML5, and converting HTML-based games into mobile apps. The teens will work with DroneSix to learn about Micro Drones and Robotics. Over the past years, the CS has hosted more than 500 students from over 25 countries.
The CS provides students with a unique experience of a school characterised by innovative approaches in a non-formal educational setting, addressing the real needs of both the youth of today and the skills required by the labour market. It provides insight into the world of coding and technology. The Coding School will cover a number of different areas, including using HTML to create a blog, mobile app and a video game. Additional activities include working on robotics and micro drones. To apply for the program, teens and their guardians can apply here https://podio.com/webforms/23108743/1646167.