Code Clubs are bridging the digital divide around the world
How volunteers and Code Clubs connect kids by getting creative with code
Code Club is a network of volunteer-led coding clubs that allow kids from different schools and age groups to meet up and learn to code. To highlight the connections that Code Clubs create beyond the classroom, we spoke with some volunteers to share the possibilities that Code Club offers the kids in their community.
Alicia Heinzle, the Children’s Services Librarian at Bibliothèque Champlain Library, told us that she decided to start a coding club to bring something new and exciting to their programming:
“Kids between the ages of 9 – 13 years that are avid readers and supporters of the library fit in the coding age range.”
Free workshops allow kids of diverse backgrounds to connect, learn, and share. This helps to reduce the digital gap in a world that is growing dependent on technology.
Code Clubs make learning easier by bringing in interactivity and fun. For example, when coding with Scratch, kids work on projects and share them with other users worldwide. They learn to collaborate by working on other users’ projects or by working in groups.
Young coders can create their own Scratch games like this one. CREDIT: Hippocampus.
Christine Tam, the Digital Technology Assistant at the Hamilton Public Library notices the enthusiasm in their reactions:
“I’m always amazed by the way kids customize and remix their projects. There’s so much creativity and such a joy to see their enthusiasm.”
Kids can create anything they can dream up during Code Club, making it a fun after-school program where they build invaluable skills for the future.
Beenish Khan, a Canadian software engineer who set up the Aniqa Naz Foundation in Pakistan to educate local kids added:
“I’ve found that Code Clubs aren’t just a way to teach programming to kids. In fact, they offer a way to inspire kids, to give them something creative to do with their time. Code Clubs are a wholesome activity.”