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.

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.

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!

Coding 3D worlds at your Code Club

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released a path of six new Unity projects to help young people take their first steps to create 3D worlds. Find out why Unity is such a versatile tool and how you can use it to stretch your more confident coders.

What is Unity?

Unity is a free coding platform used by developers, artists, and professionals across the globe.

It’s perhaps best known for its part in the creation of many well-known games — such as the viral hit Among Us — but Unity’s uses extend beyond the gaming world. Medical simulations created in Unity have allowed doctors to learn through 3D interactive experiences, and it can support a wide range of 3D projects, from architectural visualisations, to animations and interactive displays.

Last year, several young people used Unity to make their creations for Coolest Projects. Their incredible projects included an amazing minigolf game and a virtual reality ‘Escape the Maze’ game. Through our new Unity project path, your Code Club members could build the next gaming sensation or code amazing interactive 3D stories to share with the world!

What can you learn with Unity?

Unity scripting uses C#, which is a popular object-oriented programming language used by many professional developers. C# scripting tells GameObjects that represent characters, props, and scenery in Unity how to behave and interact.

For learners who already have some knowledge of text-based coding, Unity opens up an exciting world of new opportunities. Our team has created a path of introductory projects to guide your learners from their first steps in Unity, to creating a self-directed Unity project.

Before you get started

Unity is a powerful piece of software. Before you use it in your club, make sure you check the system requirements to ensure your hardware is able to run it.

Our Unity guide takes you through all the steps to download the Unity Hub and Visual Studio. It can take a while to download this software, so make sure to leave plenty of time ahead of your Code Club session!

Six new projects

The new Unity project path builds young people’s skills across six linked projects.

First, there are three Explore projects for young people to get to know Unity: they build their knowledge as they follow instructions to create a 3D game with players, animations, sounds, and effects.

The following two Design projects ask learners to use the skills they’ve developed to make design choices: they create their own 3D world and add quests and NPCs (non-player characters).

The final Invent project of the path then asks young coders to fulfil a brief: they create a 3D adventure with a goal that the player needs to achieve. Learners can draw inspiration from a series of examples or use their own interests and experiences to decide the direction of their final project.

We have a NEW Unity crib sheet to help you build your confidence and navigate these projects with your Code Club.

If you’re based in the UK, the USA, India, or Ireland, visit your dashboard to download the crib sheet. If you’re based outside of these countries, visit the Club Organiser Pack page of the Code Club International website to download the crib sheet.

Your learners can also join The Raspberry Pi team for their first-ever Unity livestream on Thursday 24 March at 6.30pm GMT. The livestream will run for around 45 minutes. It will be the perfect introduction to Unity and our project path for you and your experienced coders.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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