UNESCO/CODEMAO: Empowering youth through coding and digital skills

From July 24^th to 31^st, 2024, educators and students from Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Thailand participated in a week-long study tour in Zhuji and Shenzhen, China. This project is part of the UNESCO/CODEMAO Africa Asia Youth Coding Initiative launched in 2021, which aims to promote the inclusive and safe use of technology in education and provide students and teachers with essential digital skills, crucial for navigating today’s technology-driven landscape. 

The Namibian delegation comprised three teachers and four students (two males and two females aged 15 to 18) from MindsInAction and Glowdom, accompanied by two UNESCO Windhoek Office staff members. The selection of students was based on teacher recommendations which ensured their preparedness. Notably, additional attendees included Mr. Tianchi Li, CEO of CODEMAO, Mr. Zhan Tao, Director of UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, Mr. Liu Xue, Deputy Director of China’s National Center for Educational Technology (NCET), Mr. Abdoulaye Ibrahim, Head of Unit and Project Coordinator at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and Mr. Omar Diop, Head of UNESCO’s Côte d’Ivoire office.

With assistance from the National Centre for Educational Technology of China, the teams participated in various activities designed to enhance their understanding of coding and digital technologies.  The programme also provided opportunities for networking with other international students to foster cultural exchange, which is crucial for developing global perspectives among young learners.

UNESCO and CODEMAO are collaborating to foster global innovation by utilizing technology and education to empower youth, particularly girls and women, through improved access to coding and digital skills. This partnership aims to eliminate gender biases in the tech industry and promote coding as a vital life skill. CODEMAO, a China-based coding education company, is dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities by providing digital resources and innovative coding tools. By incorporating technology into educational systems, CODEMAO leads in online learning research and development while inspiring young entrepreneurs. The collaboration aligns with the goals of the 4th Industrial Revolution, emphasizing the importance of equipping young people in Africa and Asia with critical digital skills to address regional challenges and opportunities.

[b"All students have potential and just need a chance to succeed"[/b] - Li Tianchi, co-founder of CODEMAO

Following this study tour, the next step of the initiative involves organizing both online and offline student exchanges. This next step will expand the range of activities offered and benefit a larger number of students, notably in Africa and Asia.  Training programs will be designed to empower more female participants, addressing the critical issue of girls’ digital literacy and education in Asia by providing targeted resources and establishing programs aimed at attracting girls. To foster innovation among youth, particularly in coding for solution development, future competitions will include prizes and promote peer-to-peer interaction and learning, leveraging students’ growing interest in Artificial Intelligence.