Inspire the Next Generation: Apply for a Meet and Code Grant
Publication date: June 17, 2024
Mark your calendars. Meet and Code launches on June 17th with non-profit organizations (NPOs) hosting creative digital skills workshops to inspire the next generation of coders.
If you’re new to Meet and Code, the organization supports NPOs by providing a micro-grant of €500 and know-how to host fun and engaging events showcasing the power of coding and digital skills and how it fuels innovation. The aim is to provide an opportunity for young people between the ages of 8-24 to dive into the exciting world of digital education, explore its impact on our daily lives, and gain valuable skills for careers of the future.
Whose behind Meet and Code? Haus des Stiftens, TechSoup Europe, and country partners from the TechSoup network joined forces with Amazon, the organization’s primary donor. Through the framework of Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon supports Meet and Code through financial muscle and expertise.
Ready to get involved? Here’s what you need to know:
- Who can participate? NPOs, schools, IT professionals, companies, and computer clubs among others, can design events for children and youth. However, the event organizer needs to be a charitable organization to secure funding.
- Event ideas? Think hackathons, coding workshops, film screenings, coding competitions, robotics classes – the possibilities are endless! Meet and Code’s goal is to provide #digitalskills4all, and especially welcome events held for youth from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds.
- Event formats? Choose in-person, online, or even a hybrid approach to suit your needs.
- Where’s the action? We’re sparking imaginations across 13 European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
- How to apply? Submit your event proposals online at meet-and-code.org between May 22 and September 30, 2024. Organizations can submit multiple ideas, and the best ones will be chosen by the local partners in each country. Successful applicants will receive a grant of €500 to support their event.
- Event timeframe? Meet and Code events can take place between June 17th and October 31st, 2024.
Meet and Code Awards
Meet and Code will also award the most creative and successful events across three categories. These awards aim to recognize excellence and inspire future events to close the digital skills gap.
This year’s awards focus on three categories aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- Girls do IT! promotes gender equality by encouraging girls’ interest in coding.
- Diversity seeks innovative events that empower under-represented communities in digital education.
- Code for the Planet combines coding with environmental action to tackle climate change.
How to participate in the Awards
Events that have successfully completed a Meet and Code workshop can be submitted for the Awards between October 1st and November 10th, 2024.
The top three events (one in each category) win €3,000 and recognition at the Meet and Code Awards ceremony. Learn more about the Awards here
Ready to Apply for Meet and Code?
Head over to the Meet and Code website for your country between now and September 30th to submit your event proposal. The best ideas will be chosen by local partners in each country, and successful applicants will receive a grant of €500 to support their event.
