As part of efforts to equip children and young people with the requisite knowledge and skills in improved technology and modern digitalization, SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana in partnership with AmaliTech has launched the ‘Coding for Kids’ (C4K) Project.
The all-important project seeks to focus on the development of core areas which include: Coding for Kids (C4K), Internship for SOS Youth, Graduate Training for Employment and Pre-AmaliTech for young people in Kumasi.
Currently, about 950 pupils from primary 4 to Junior High School are benefiting from this project which was introduced in all the four SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools in the country namely, Asiakwa, Kumasi, Tamale and Tema since May 2021.
Speaking at a colourful ceremony to officially launch the project at the Tema programme location of the Association, the National Director, Mr. Alexander Mar Kekula, said there was the need to equip children and the youth with skills to help reduce the unemployment in the country.
“There is a need for young people to be competitive in the fast-paced digital world of technology and innovation. The modern economy is changing from agricultural and industrial economies to information and digital economies. It is worrying that we are in the 4th Industrial revolution, but unemployment is higher amongst young people who should be equipped with the needed skills”.
“The World Development Report 2019 has revealed that the future labour market will require new skills, including digital fluency. The partnership between the MA and AmaliTech focuses on education, employment, and training and workshops; and young people will benefit from internship opportunities, career mentorship, digital training, and employment opportunities amongst others. I want to encourage the beneficiaries to take the coding lessons seriously because this is an avenue for all of you to acquire the relevant and necessary skills for your future”.
On his part, the Country Director of AmaliTech, Mr. Mattew Darkwa, commended SOS CV Ghana and said, “As employers, the job market has changed to require that young people have the requisite knowledge in digitalization. There is a need for young people to be supported with IT skills development and this will increase the overall productivity and national development as it offers an alliance to improved technology and modern trends. I entreat all state stakeholders to prioritize investment in digitalization for children and young people as a good road map to overall development.”
The participants were given the opportunity to express their experiences and lessons from the programme where they took turns to elaborate on their personal ‘coding’ journey.
The children who expressed delight at the opportunity proceeded to highlight key outcomes from their studies, some of which comprise website designing, football games and other creative engagements that probe intellectual intelligence.
As part of the scheduled event, a competition was organized for children from the four locations (Tema, Asiakwa, Kumasi and Tamale), and judges awarded marks for creativity, swiftness and careful completion of tasks.
At the end of the competition, children from the Tema Programme location emerged winners of the Scratch competition and children from the Tamale programme location won the Html.