Learning to Code with Dojos

Technology impacts our everyday lives more now than ever before. This connected world allows us to communicate globally with ease and interact with friends, family and applications from almost any device and at any time. Young people today are growing up in an environment where digital, tech, apps is the norm – they probably don’t even remember a world without it.

CoderDojo is an organization that believes that young people today should be able to access the magic behind all this technology, and they do this through facilitating a global community of free programming clubs for young people. These clubs, better known as dojos, run all over the world on a weekly basis, giving young people between the ages of 7 and 17 the opportunity to learn how to develop computer code, websites, apps, programs, games, digital media and to explore technology. In addition to technology skills, young people also build complementary skills of creativity, innovation, communication, collaboration, teamwork and leadership.

Dojos at Salesforce

Salesforce.org is pleased to be able to facilitate dojos in the Salesforce.com Dublin offices with the help of some amazing employees who volunteer their time to help Citywise kids learn both HTML and Scratch. Citywise is a Dublin based organization that provides young people from disadvantaged communities with after-school and out-of-school educational support throughout the year. Salesforce & Citywise dojos give these young people the opportunity to learn practical coding skills in a safe and fun environment, while interaction with other young people who share similar interests.

It’s also a great way for Salesforce employees to lend their knowledge and expertise to the next generation of coders: “CoderDojo is fun for all involved, kids, teachers and parents alike. It takes the myth away from coding and allows young people to have fun whilst learning an invaluable skill for their future lives! Very happy to be supporting such a great project.” Christian Mielke, Principal Sales Engineer, Salesforce.com

Citywise learn to code at Salesforce Dublin

#EUCODEWEEK

As well as holding dojos at the Salesforce office, Salesforce.org is co-sponsoring a special event run by the CoderDojo Foundation during EU Code week (11^th-17^th October). During the event 30 young people from all over Europe will come together to showcase their coding skills by teaching MEPs how to build a HTML website in a two hour session at the European Parliament.

EU Dojo 2013 (CoderDojo)

The event will be MC’ed by the new Global CEO of the CoderDojo Foundation Mary Moloney. Chris Hutchins, Vice-President of European Policy for Liberty Global will launch a communication campaign developed collaboratively with the CoderDojo Foundation designed to recruit more mentors and champions across Europe.

Interested in setting up Dojos in your local area? Check out the CoderDojo website.