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Shepherd Chimururi Interactive Youth Correspondent

In line with the goal of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education’s new education policy, Education 5.0 which requires the students to design solutions to the technological, economic and industrial problems, Kids Who Code Africa recently held a free workshop at Dzivarasekwa 3 Community Hall to encourage underprivileged students to be creative, critical thinkers, innovators and problem solvers.

Kids Who Code Africa whose vision is to see improved lives of African kids through partnering in the use of technology and innovation within the ICT sector is on a mission to give opportunities to children in ECD, primary and high schools to learn practical STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and entrepreneurial skills.

The children will be engaged in coding, applied electronics, robotics, graphic designing and entrepreneurship courses.

The programme emphasizes innovation, problem solving and design thinking. This prepares them for a bright future lit up by technology. The Kids Who Code programs are hands-on.

It also gives awareness of the vast possibilities ICTs offer, quelling misconceptions about the sector and inviting kids to envision their future as ICT creators. Encouraging kids to pursue ICT careers also fosters a more dynamic technology sector, posing extensive benefits for companies.

A more gender-balanced workforce reflects the customer base more accurately, enhances productivity and innovation and leads to better financial results.

In an interview with the Youth Interactive, Jerrance Chaparadza (16) an O’ Level pupil at Mount Pleasant High School said, “I attended the workshop to gain more information and knowledge in computers because that’s my circle of interest.

“I benefited a lot, like how to start my own business, how to become a graphic designer, more information about entrepreneurship, how to do web designing and programming.”

Zoe Sikhova (13) who studies at Junction Adventist High School, said that she attended the workshop because she wanted to know more about ICT.

“From the workshop I benefited a lot. I learnt about computer sciences and the advantages of doing them at school.

“I am going to work hard so that I will do ICT subjects at O’ level and ‘’ level. The workshop was good. I enjoyed it a lot, the thing I liked most is they included us students for free,” she said.

The workshop was hosted by the organisation’s secretary, Shamiso Kamukono.

The first presenter was Kids Who Code chairman Tashinga Kamukono he presented a lesson on how to be an ICT entrepreneur.

Tashinga talked on how one can start a business and the impotent steps one can take so that business can grow.

The second presenter was Ernest Muvunzi, an award-winning entrepreneur, graphic designer, photographer and the founder of Fotokulture. Mavunzi presented on graphic designing and photography.

He talked about how one can be a designer without having a college certificate and be a successful business person.

The third presenter was Divine Saungweme, a recent school leaver who passed his A’ Level studies with flying colours. He talked about computer programming.

Divine talked about how he managed to become a successful computer science student during the coronavirus era.

In his presentation Divine also gave tips on how to be a successful student.

The forth presenter was Ruvimbo Chiheve who talked about web development and the importance of having a website in this generation.

Lastly it was the director and founder of Kids Who Code Africa Ruvimbo Moyo who highlighted the future activities of the organisation.

The workshop was sponsored by Joshua Dube who has a passion to make computer coding a skill for every African Kid.