CoderDojo kids are off to Brussels

Later this week, the CoderDojo Foundation is running a special event at the European Parliament in Brussels, to bring together young people, MEPs and industry leaders from across Europe.

The #EUDojo is a training event for young computer coders to teach computer skills to European MEPs.

CoderDojo is a volunteer-led movement of free computer coding clubs for young people.

Coleraine CoderDojo has been running for almost two years.

Two young people from Coleraine CoderDojo have been selected to join a group of young computer coders from all over Europe to attend the #EUDojo event.

Reuben Ackermann, aged 11, from Dalriada School and Sam Stuart, aged 14, from Dominican College will travel to Brussels to teach MEPs computer coding skills which they have learnt at Coleraine CoderDojo.  

The boys will teach MEPs how to create websites during a two hour session in the European Parliament.

They will also be demoing the projects that they have created with the knowledge gained from attending Coleraine CoderDojo.

Digital literacy is fast becoming an essential competency for everyone living in this connected world.

According to a recent European estimate, by 2020 Europe is expected to face a shortfall of more than 900,000 technically skilled employees.

Despite the need for young people to learn technical skills, few are given this opportunity.

Coleraine CoderDojo is supported by a network of skilled voluntary mentors who pass on computer skills to young people in their charge and is hosted

by Causeway Enterprise Agency.

CoderDojo is a global community of free programming clubs for young people.

There are now over 640+ Dojos spread across 58+ countries around the world.

The Club meets every second Tuesday evening at the CoderLab in the Causeway Enterprise Agency.

A team of volunteer mentors help young people aged 10 to 16 to learn how to develop computer code, websites, apps, programs, games,

digital media and to explore technology. CoderDojo is completely free.