Announcing the launch of our Code Clubs in Kenya and Uganda

Today, as we move forward on our campaign #RewritingTheCode we are proud to announce the launch of our first Code Clubs in Kenya and Uganda.

Vulnerable girls and young women in Africa are being given a unique chance to learn vital technology skills in a safe space through an innovative pilot project launched by the charity Theirworld.

Designed to empower girls with technology through creativity and learning, Code Clubs will benefit between 600 and 700 females aged five to 24 in Kenya and Uganda. The project will expand to three more countries later this year.

Theirworld is launching Code Clubs in partnership with Kano and Codecademy.

These girls from Kibera School for Girls in Kenya are excited to be at the Code Club Pictures: Theirworld/Adriane Ohanesian

Code Clubs are low-cost, sustainable and scaleable safe spaces where girls can build, learn and create through technology, creativity and coding.

Thousands of jobs are being created in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries across Africa.

But gender discrimination, lack of access to education and technology means girls are kept out of the workforce and unable to break the cycle of poverty.

A student at the Kibera school opens a Kano computer kit

Theirworld President Sarah Brown said: “With a safe space to learn and play, a mentor to inspire and access to technology to be able to explore, create and code, we can increase learning opportunities and empower girls to fulfil their potential.

“Every girl should have the opportunity to go to school, learn, grow and have a future they choose.”

The kit has instructions on how to assemble the computer

The Code Clubs, the first of which has been funded by Facebook, will run once a week after school for six months at a time.

Girls will be taught a programme of online coding content by a trained teacher and mentor and given access to numeracy, literacy, art and music to support their formal education.

They will also all be given a healthy snack during the class to keep up energy levels and improve concentration.

Kibera students show what they think girls are capable of achieving

Kano computer kits, which will be used in the clubs, are low-cost, easily transportable, can be rebuilt multiple times and are highly applicable in countries where connectivity is low.

They’re happy to be getting a great education at the primary school 

Barbara Birungi, Co-Founder and Director of Women in Technology Uganda, said: “Being able to go to school and learn in a safe environment is critical in both the short- and long-term to ensure a generation of girls’ potential is not squandered or lost to child labour, child marriage or other life-threatening activities.”

The project aims to aid future mentors to set up and run their own tech hubs. Girls who have completed the course will be encouraged to return to mentor the next group of girls, enabling a self-sustaining model with community support.

Find out more about the #RewritingTheCode campaign and how you can help to ensure girls have equal opportunities. This project is supported by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.