In July 2023, during the school holidays, Techbase took coding and technology education out of the classroom and into community spaces around Ibadan. We set up laptops in local centres and invited children, many of them first-time learners, to explore computer science.
Why we did it
Many children never get near a computer outside school, if they get near one at all. Holidays make that gap wider. Bringing the equipment and an instructor to places where children already gather removes some of the barriers: no transport costs, a familiar place and friends nearby.
What the sessions looked like
- Hands-on from the first minute. Children worked in pairs on laptops, with instructors helping.
- Simple, visual tools. Beginners started with block-based coding and basic robotics ideas.
- A supportive atmosphere. Mistakes were treated as part of learning.
What we took from it
Curiosity does not depend on where a child lives. Access does. When a child sits at a laptop for the first time and makes something move, the effect is immediate and visible.
Read the full story and see the photographs in our Portfolio entry. If your community centre, church or school hall would like a session, get in touch.