Code Club India

Cool and creative, meet Azmat the superhero from Kashmir

Azmat (16) is inspiring her peers to get involved in coding! Vasu, Programme Coordinator for Code Club India,  met with Azmat virtually to learn about her coding journey; her participation in Coolest Projects; and how,  as she gets older, computing features in her life. 

Code Club India member, Azmat.

Meet Azmat!

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Azmat, I am 16 years old and I live in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, in India. I have been going to the Pi Jam Code Club which is held in my local school for 1.5 years.

What skills have you gained from attending Code Club? 

All our [Code Club] sessions start with a problem statement, and we use a problem-solving approach and then [we] use computers to solve it.

Now for any problem that comes to me, I do not directly jump to any solutions. I sketch [and] imagine a lot before creating anything.

What’s your favourite Code Club project and why?

I love the Scratch project Flappy parrot. It reminds me of simpler times, and all the kids in my area really enjoyed it when I made it. 

Tell us a Code Club memory (big or small) that you’re proud of?

When my project [Covid Helpline website] was selected for Coolest Projects, it definitely has to be that. 

My life kind of took a turn after that. I was called to the Red FM 93.5 office [a local Indian radio channel] for an interview! I cherish that memory a lot. It was my first time ever representing myself on such a big platform. 

Azmat at Red FM 93.5

Since the radio office was in Srinagar and I live in Sopore, it was also not easy to convince my parents to let me go for an interview,  but as luck would have it, I convinced them!  

How has coding and learning about computers benefited your life?

Learning about computers and computer programming has helped me to think creatively. 

When my project [Covid Helpline website] was selected in Coolest Projects, I got a lot of opportunities to share my experiences on various platforms, which boosted my confidence. 

Girls in younger grades in my school now look up to me and they also want to join Pi Jam classes!

Can you share why you decide to take part in Coolest Projects? 

I created a lot of projects with my friends and I was excited to know that I would get a chance to submit my creation with so many [other] students across so many different countries. 

What inspired your 2021 Coolest Projects idea? 

There were lots of people around my community suffering, facing the problem of not finding [COVID-19] accurate information, details about the right hospital, and the availability of different services. I wanted to help them, and decided to create a website.

How did you feel seeing your project featured in the Coolest Projects online showcase? 

I was so happy as I was one of many students from India who got a chance to share their experience online with so many people from across the world!

What are you looking forward to most about Coolest Projects Global 2022? 

I have already started preparing for Coolest Projects Global 2022, as I started around this time last year as well. I am focussing on my problem statement and I am excited to see how my project shapes up.

If someone was thinking about taking part in Coolest Projects Global, what would you say to them? 

It’s a wonderful opportunity, do not miss the chance!

Our last question! Looking to the future, how do you see computing featuring in your life? 

Inspiring more girls in my community to learn [about] computer science!

Azmat attends a Code Club run by the Pi Jam Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to equip children and educators in India with access to affordable technology and computer science education that fosters essential skills like problem-solving and design thinking. 

Be like Azmat and get involved with this year’s global online showcase.

Wherever you are in the world, invite your Code Club members to get creative and take part in Coolest Projects Global 2022!

Ms Usha’s reflections on her journey as a Code Club India educator

Ms Usha, an IT professional and now Code Club educator shares what inspired her to set up a Code Club, how it is helping learners to gain new skills, and why it is important to empower girls to explore digital making!

Ms Usha

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I work and live in Dubai as an IT professional, but grew up in Andhra Pradesh, a southern state in India. I am a tech enthusiast and believe that it can change people’s lives.

The opportunity was given to me to leave Andhra Pradesh and explore my career options. I wanted to give that chance — that opportunity — to those children in my old village, which was my motivator to go back and set up a Code Club.

 I wanted a chance to learn something new and expand my own skills.

Each week, I run my club online from Dubai and have sixty plus club members attending via the local school in Andhra Pradesh.

What inspired you to volunteer for Code Club?

I learned about Scratch when volunteering with the Ministry of Education AI series, in the UAE [in] 2019. The projects created by the students impressed me and encouraged me to learn to code.

I had the assumption that coding wasn’t meant for children and that they wouldn’t understand complicated concepts. After looking at Scratch and the Code Club projects and resources — I thought to myself “Why can’t they?”, rather “Why can’t I?”.

Learning never ends, one should be a student for life!

I decided to start a club in Andhra Pradesh, as I wanted to develop the skills and bring out the hidden talents of the children within that community.

What skills can children gain with Code Club?

With technology comes freedom of expression and the chance for children to set out and achieve something on their own.

In doing so, they face challenges that they must work through to reach their goals. Coding helps them to establish a strong sense of perseverance and encourages learners to come up with their own solutions.

They can use these skills in computing, or outside of it — in the form of homework issues, disagreements with friends, or other personal hardship they may face.

Why is it important to empower girls to explore digital making?

Girls still face many barriers when exploring computing and digital making opportunities. From gender discrimination [and] language difficulties to low literacy and lack of funding.

There are many hidden skills gained through computing, including problem-solving, teamwork, and self-motivation which will support girls with their future education.

Programmes like Code Club also help to improve literacy and education and is another way to help girls reach their potential.

Can you share what you enjoy most about running a Code Club?

Learners at Code Club have a positive attitude about learning new things. I enjoy seeing their creativity and imagination come to life through code, they support each other even if it’s online. Sometimes, I can struggle with the local language, but students jump in and help me out, whilst supporting each other.

Has Ms Usha inspired you to set up a Code Club? Take a look at our website or contact the Code Club India team at india@raspberrypi.org.

If you start in London and walk 6,073 miles east, where does it take you? The answer, Delhi!

In January, members from the Code Club UK and Ireland team set themselves the challenge to walk the distance from London to Delhi to virtually meet Code Club India colleagues, Vasu and Divya. 

We have reached the halfway point, and it’s time to celebrate the amazing clubs we’ve caught up with along the way! 

The team on their walks
The virtual walking route!

First stop, London: Over half of the London Underground runs above ground 

Olivia is a Code Club leader at Peckham Library, and we asked her to share a highlight from the past year: 

“This term, we have started to experiment with allowing some of the students to teach a session. It has been incredible to see the students, who are only 10 to 12 years old, take on ownership of the class, lead the session, and take questions from their peers.”

Theo, a member from the club also registered his project Bookwriggle, a book recommendation website, in this year’s Coolest Projects showcase, and it was selected as a judge’s favourite! Go, Theo! 

Bookwiggle website designed by Theo

Second stop, Graz: The Austrian national flag is one of the oldest in the world

Whilst virtually walking through Graz, in Austria, we caught up with Günter Nimmerfall, who runs a Code Club at MS Schulzentrum Hall. 

Gunter shares why Code Club suits his school: 

“We are a secondary school with two focuses: languages (Italian) and STEM education. Code Club is perfect; it gives learners the chance to experience coding and creating (3D printing, 3D modelling).We love to show our learners how to code games.

It’s very nice to code some retro games like Flappy bird or racing games like the Boat race, which can be done at the learner’s pace.”

Third stop, Tuzla: The heart-shaped land of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Two boys, both named Haris, attend Code Clubs in the city of Tuzla, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the country is nicknamed the ‘Heart-Shaped Land’, we asked them to share why they love Code Club! 

“I love Code Club because we all have the superpower to create and shape the present, and change the future. In our Code Club, not only do we learn how to code, but we also learn to think and cooperate with our fellow students.

Each one of us has certain talents and knowledge that we can use, and together as a team we reach solutions.”

Haris, from Mejdan school in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

“I love Code Club because I love to code and I love challenges, and each new project is a challenge for me. I love to work on projects since then my creativity, maths, and IT skills develop.

Coding gives me opportunities to make life easier through technology for every person.”

Haris, from OŠ “Kreka” school in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Fourth stop, Bulgaria: One of the oldest European countries, established in 681 AD

Alexander, Anton, and Victor are seventh graders who attend Code Club Bulgaria; they entered this year’s Coolest Projects showcase with their creation ASTEROIDS SE (ARCADE). 

They were inspired by the arcade game Asteroids, which they said was “one of the most amazing video games in the early history of video games”. They created their remake in Scratch with a new design and functions — in their game, you can gain extra firepower by achieving different targets! 

ASTEROIDS SE (ARCADE)

Josh Hellier, Global Community Coordinator, had a go at the game:

It was so much fun. They’ve done an amazing job of recreating this classic 1979 game! It’s clear they worked brilliantly as a team and supported each other in learning new skills to realise their vision. Well done! 

Celebrate your achievements with the Code Club team by sharing them on Twitter at Code Club UK or Code Club World using the hashtag #MyCodeClub!