Author: codeclub

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Micro-interview with Code Club creator Jayantika

Jayantika is a 15-year-old Code Club creator from rural Pune, India. This inspiring young coder started as a Code Club creator and is now a peer mentor for other creators in her club.

In this short interview, she talks about her Code Club experience, the positive impact it’s had on her life, and her motivation for supporting other young people in her village to learn to code.

Jayantika supporting creators

Enjoy this micro-interview with Code Club creator Jayantika! 

Let’s get started…

Why did you decide to become a peer mentor?

I’ve been part of my Code Club, run by the BIDKAR FOUNDATION who provide coding opportunities to young people in rural areas of Pune, for the last three years.

Seeing the positive impact coding has had on my life inspired me to support others. So I became a peer mentor to share my coding skills with children in rural areas who have fewer opportunities than those in urban schools.

I believe coding opens doors and helps young children express their creativity. By mentoring, I hope to prepare them for a future that is increasingly driven by AI and technology.

How has being a peer mentor positively impacted you?

I feel more confident — being a peer mentor and teaching others enhances my own understanding of coding. Young people’s positive feedback also boosts my confidence and shows I’m making a meaningful impact through collaborative learning.

It’s also rewarding. It allows me to share my passion for coding, and I can help foster a supportive environment. And I love working with my teammate, Ruturaj, who is my brother. Together, I feel we’re making a difference for the other creators who attend Code Club.

What I love most is seeing children in rural areas grow confident in coding and problem solving. It’s inspiring to watch them transform, knowing they’re gaining skills that can open doors to global opportunities and help bridge the digital divide in their communities.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a peer mentor at their Code Club?

I would encourage them to become a Code Club peer mentor because it’s a rewarding experience. Mentoring allows you to share your passion for coding, build your skills, and make a meaningful impact on young learners.

Thank you, Jayantika!

If you enjoyed this micro-interview, check out our others; for example, hear from Terrell in England and learn about how he helps his friends with their coding projects.

Do you want to empower creators like Jayantika? No coding experience is needed to start your own Code Club! Join the movement today.

Take your first steps into AI with Code Club’s new toolkit

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere in the news, and you might be wondering how to introduce this exciting technology to your Code Club creators. With our new AI toolkit, you can explore age-appropriate projects that provide a gentle introduction to AI and machine learning. These projects are designed to inspire and empower young creators, opening the door to a world of fun, hands-on technology experiences.

Two boys standing between a sign that says 'Code Club'.
Bring the exploration into your Code Club!

Code Club is the perfect place for AI exploration

Code Club is a welcoming space where young people can safely and creatively explore coding, digital making, and new technologies, such as the capabilities of AI.

Our AI toolkit is a thoughtfully curated collection of ten short projects, each focusing on a carefully selected AI tool or technique. We’ve considered quality, data security, and the ethics behind AI training, for example, one of the projects uses Adobe Firefly, which is only trained on stock images and openly licensed content. That means peace of mind for you, and that your creators can engage with each tool confidently.

And the best part? You don’t need to be an expert, and neither do your creators! Each project can be tackled independently and requires only basic resources — some use webcams or a Raspberry Pi computer, but others only need a web browser. The toolkit has also been designed with flexibility in mind, so you can select projects that match your club’s available tech and your creators’ interests.

Explore our AI toolkit

Getting started with AI in your Code Club

Whether you’re new to AI or are an experienced AI user, the toolkit is designed so anyone can dive in and create something in just minutes.

Each project includes both a step-by-step tutorial video and text instructions, making it easy to follow along. The projects focus on real-world AI applications like classifiers, facial recognition, and image generation, introducing each concept in a hands-on way. And once creators complete a project, they’re encouraged to customise their work and make it their own — a perfect way to let their creativity shine.

Some project highlights…

Chomp the cheese: This fun project teaches creators to combine image recognition with a webcam, letting them virtually “chomp” floating cheese puffs. It’s easy to customise, too — whether your creators want to catch doughnuts, head a football, or add a scoreboard, they’ll have a blast bringing their ideas to life

Explore facial recognition with ‘Chomp the cheese’ 

Dinosaur decision tree: No computers available? No problem! In this paper-based project, creators build a simple decision tree, mimicking how AI classifiers work. It’s an ideal, hands-on way to understand classification — no tech required!

Create a paper-based decision tree

Dance detector: If your creators love to move, this is the project for them! By combining a micro:bit with machine learning, creators can predict and classify dance moves. It’s a perfect mix of tech and active fun.

Dance-off with machine learning!

What do our testers think?

At a recent training event for youth leaders, 77% of participants who tried the projects said that they felt confident about using them with young people in their Code Club. 

And here’s what some of our younger testers had to say:

“I really liked the projects. I now understand AI more :)”

“AI generators are annoyingly inaccurate, but also really fun to mess around with.”

With the new AI toolkit, you have everything you need to introduce AI to your Code Club. Give it a try and watch your creators’ creativity and confidence grow as they explore the endless possibilities of AI.

Supporting Code Club mentors

Code Clubs thrive on the energy and dedication of volunteer mentors. These amazing individuals generously give their time and expertise to inspire the next generation of coders. But even the most enthusiastic volunteer needs support! Here are some ways to show your appreciation and keep your mentors engaged.

Girl sat at a desk looking at a computer sceen. Behind her are two adults, leaning in and looking at the screen.
Volunteer mentors help to keep Code Clubs running.

Recognise and appreciate

There are some easy ways to show how much you value the support of the mentors at your Code Club: 

  • Regular shout-outs: Publicly acknowledge mentors’ contributions during club sessions, in newsletters, or on social media.
  • Small gestures: A simple “thank you” goes a long way. Why not suggest that the young creators code a thank-you card for their mentors at the end of the term? 
  • Celebrate milestones: Mark anniversaries of mentors’ involvement — for example, after they’ve been volunteering for six months. Also, celebrate their successes — this could be when a mentor has supported a creator to enter Coolest Projects or send their code to space with the European Astro Pi Challenge.

Provide ongoing training and development

Not all mentors will come from a coding background. You can show your support and make them feel like valued members of your Code Club by helping them gain new skills and confidence: 

  • Workshops and webinars: Encourage mentors to take advantage of the many online workshops and webinars offered by Code Club. Interested mentors can learn new coding languages, concepts, and mentoring techniques in a supportive, friendly environment.
  • Peer mentoring: Pair experienced mentors with newer ones for guidance and support.
  • Access to resources: Point mentors towards the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s bank of free courses. If there’s an article or book you’ve found helpful, share it with them. Everyone loves a recommendation!
Sign up to a Raspberry Pi free computing course

Create a supportive community

When we create a supportive community we provide a space for mentors to share experiences, challenges, and successes with others. There are some easy ways to do this: 

  • Regular meetings: Organise regular meetings for mentors to connect, share ideas, and discuss challenges.
  • Online communication: All mentors can join our Code Club Slack instance. In this online forum, mentors can chat to each other, get inspired, and find answers to a range of questions from our friendly global community. 
  • Coffee and conversation: Encourage mentors to sign up for Code Club online meetups. There’s no agenda at these meetups — they’re just a space for mentors and club leaders to share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate. 
Five adults are sat on a long table all working on laptops.
Find a space for mentors to meet and share experiences

Value their time and expertise

No matter your mentors’ backgrounds, they have something to offer your Code Club! Make sure you value their time and set clear expectations from the beginning. This will help with volunteer burnout and ensure everyone has a rewarding experience. 

  • Clear expectations: Communicate clearly about the time commitment and responsibilities involved in being a mentor at your club.
  • Flexibility: Be flexible with scheduling and allow mentors to contribute in ways that suit their skills and availability.
  • Listen to feedback: Actively seek and respond to mentors’ suggestions for club improvements.

These tips will help create a positive and inclusive Code Club environment, where all mentors feel welcome and valued. 

Show your appreciation for your Code Club mentors at your next session. Use our ‘From me to you‘ Scratch project to create a personalised thank-you card.