Celebrating International Youth Day: The power of coding for young minds
Publication date: August 12, 2024
Today is International Youth Day — a day dedicated to recognising the contributions of young people globally and addressing the challenges they face. This year’s theme is Youth Empowerment for Global Action — and this aligns perfectly with one of the most empowering tools available to young people today — coding.
Coding is not just about programming computers — it’s about developing problem-solving skills, fostering creativity, and preparing for the future. Coding is transforming the lives of young people worldwide, and it’s becoming an essential skill for the next generation.
The power of coding
Coding is the process of creating instructions for computers using programming languages. These instructions can build websites, develop software, create games and much more. But beyond its technical applications, coding equips young people with a variety of crucial skills that can set them up for life.
- Problem-solving skills:
Coding teaches logical thinking and problem-solving. When coding, young people learn to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and find solutions systematically. This skill is transferable to many areas of life, from academic challenges to real-world issues.
- Creativity and innovation:
Coding is a creative process. It allows young people to bring their ideas to life, whether it’s a new app, a website or a digital game. By experimenting with code, they learn to innovate and think outside the box.
- Future career opportunities:
The tech industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, offering numerous career opportunities. Learning to code opens doors to high-paying jobs in software development, data science, cybersecurity and more.
Coding initiatives for youth empowerment
Recognising the importance of coding, numerous initiatives and programmes have been developed to teach coding to young people around the world.
EU Code Week
Launched in 2013, EU Code Week is an annual grassroots initiative aimed at bringing coding and digital literacy to everyone in a fun and engaging way. During this week, various workshops, coding sessions and hackathons are organised to inspire young people to get involved in coding. You can read more about the history of code week in this blog post.
Code.org:
Code.org is a non-profit organisation dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by women and underrepresented minorities. Their Hour of Code campaign has introduced millions of students to coding through short, accessible tutorials.
Girls Who Code:
Girls Who Code is an organisation focused on closing the gender gap in technology by teaching girls to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in tech. They offer after-school clubs, summer immersion programmes, and college loops to support girls at every stage of their educational journey.
Raspberry Pi Foundation:
The Raspberry Pi Foundation provides low-cost, high-performance computers that people use to learn, solve problems, and have fun. Their educational resources and outreach programs aim to make computing accessible to young people worldwide.
Success stories: Youth making a difference with coding
The impact of these initiatives can be seen in the success stories of young coders who have used their skills to make a difference.
Emma Yang
At just 12 years old, Emma Yang developed an app called Timeless, designed to help Alzheimer’s patients recognise their loved ones and stay connected. Using facial recognition technology, the app helps patients remember names and faces, improving their quality of life.
Tanmay Bakshi
Tanmay Bakshi is a teenage AI expert who started coding at the age of five. By 13, he was working with IBM on artificial intelligence projects. He has created AI models that assist with medical diagnoses, demonstrating the potential of young minds in solving real-world problems.
Alex Knoll:
Alex Knoll created the Ability App, a tool to help people with disabilities navigate public spaces more easily. The app provides information about accessibility features like wheelchair ramps and Braille menus, making the world more inclusive.
How to get started with coding
For young people interested in learning to code, numerous resources are available on the EU Code Week platform, such as online tutorials in the Coding@Home section, as well as online courses, interactive international Challenges, and assets for communication toolkits, with information about how to develop local coding communities and immerse yourself in EU Code Week.
As we celebrate International Youth Day, it’s important to acknowledge the potential of coding to empower young people. Let’s encourage the next generation to embrace coding and harness its power to shape a brighter future.
