DotSlash AUPTIMISME, a global Code Club partner, is an organisation whose mission is to combine inclusive technology education and creative computing, ensuring that all children in Tunisia have the opportunity to become digital creators.

Tarek Seghiri, Founder of DotSlash AUPTIMISME, spoke with Ruhee Shah, Global Partnerships Coordinator at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, about his unique school partnership model and how the organisation is a champion for creative freedom in the classroom.

“AUPTIMISME is a blend of two French words: “autisme” (autism) and “optimisme” (optimism) — and that name carries our whole story. It began as a project of inclusive technology education, born from the conviction that creative computing can transform the lives of all children — starting with those the system most often leaves behind.”

– Tarek Seghiri, Founder of DotSlash AUPTIMISME

Today, through CUBE, their Centre Technologique & Créatif, and a growing network of 13 partner schools, the organisation brings coding, digital making, and creative technology to young Tunisians. 

Creating spaces for young people to thrive

For Tarek, computing education is far more than just a modern technical skill; it is an important tool for equity and personal expression. This is especially true for the diverse groups of learners his clubs welcome each week.

“Computing is the new literacy — and for some children, it is more than that: it is a voice. For a non-verbal child, a Scratch project can be a way to express a story, a joke, a feeling. In Tunisia, talent is everywhere but opportunity is not.” 

– Tarek Seghiri, Founder of DotSlash AUPTIMISME

To make these opportunities as accessible as possible, DotSlash AUPTIMISME utilises a school partnership model. Currently, they operate seven clubs across the semi-rural Cap Bon region and five clubs across Greater Tunis.

By embedding the clubs directly inside the schools the children already attend, they remove the logistical, administrative, and trust barriers that often hinder extracurricular activities in the region. The schools provide the safe framework, while AUPTIMISME trains the mentors, who are a mix of school teachers and local university students, and manages the technology. This familiar setting has made it incredibly easy for families to engage, helping young coders learn together.

The freedom to create

AUPTIMISME is committed to learner autonomy. In these clubs, children are completely free to choose their own projects, guided by their personal interests rather than a rigid curriculum. 

Tarek initially faced some obstacles — parents expected a traditional classroom setup, schools focused on strict form, and even eager mentors wanted to step in too quickly. However, sticking to his approach has had incredible results. Attendance and engagement soared because the learning was driven by the children’s desire to build things they genuinely cared about.

Instead of a rigid curriculum, structure comes through supportive mentoring. Code Club’s step-by-step projects act as a toolbox to kickstart ideas and teach core skills, but the final project is always up to the creator.

This creative freedom is taking on exciting new shapes across their network. At the Almaarifa School in Ennasr, Ariana, the school’s leadership took the step of integrating coding directly into the primary school curriculum. Every single pupil now receives an hour of weekly coding sessions with end-of-term assessments, turning the classroom into a collaborative space where students and teachers learn the language of technology together.

Celebrating every step

Every DotSlash AUPTISIME Code Club session wraps up with a ‘demo moment’. Creators stand up to showcase what they have built, even if the project is incomplete or the code is currently broken. By celebrating the attempt or a clever bit of debugging, the clubs actively strip away the fear of failure.

This culture of celebration reached a massive milestone with the launch of the first Coolest Projects Tunisia event. Bringing together pupils from the Cap Bon region, young creators proudly showcased 28 unique projects on stage to an audience of peers and parents.

“Parents came along, and seeing their children present their own creations changed the way many of them look at what their kids are capable of. For children from a semi-rural area, standing up and showcasing a project they chose, designed, and built themselves is a powerful experience — exactly the confidence we are working to build.” 

– Tarek Seghiri, Founder of DotSlash AUPTIMISME

What’s next for DotSlash AUPTIMISME?

When young creators eventually move on from the clubs, Tarek hopes they leave with far more than just technical literacy. The ultimate goal is to instill a deep sense of confidence, giving them the lifelong reflex to look at a difficult problem and say “I can figure this out,” rather than “I can’t do this”.

Looking towards the remainder of the year, DotSlash AUPTIMISME is focused on two major objectives. The team will be expanding their school collaborations, which includes hosting the second edition of Coolest Projects Tunisia for the five clubs based in Greater Tunis. Equally exciting is launching Code Clubs in direct partnership with Downs Syndrome associations and disability support organisations. 

By creating more opportunities for young people to learn, create, and share, DotSlash AUPTIMISME is helping build a more inclusive future for creative computing in Tunisia.

Inspired to start a Code Club in your community? Find out how you can get started.