Three Rwandan Kids pass for continental African Code contest

By Elias Hakizimana.

Three Rwandan children of primary school ages won the African Code Challenge 2020-2021 to represent the country at continental level.

The challenge was organized by Africa Code Week in Partnership with Irish Aid and other various partners.

The three Winners out of 25 participants have participated in this competition at the national level after completing courses in programming and coding training. The awarding ceremony was held at Creativity Lab on Monday

Ildephonse Mungwarakarama, the Ambassador of Africa Code Week in Rwanda said that this is sap initiative that aims at enhancing digital literacy in Africa where children are trained in computer programming.

“That initiative is conducted in 54 African countries including Rwanda, and it is through the same initiative we conduct African code challenge to inspirer children start innovating and use the programming skills they have to make something that can be supporting the community.” He said.

Current competition

“This year, we have many children subscribed to compete and among them we have top three winners that are going to contest at continental level. We have submitted their projects on continental level to compete with other children from different African countries, the results will be announced soon.” He said.

The Children were supported by their parents by offering them necessary equipment such as computers coupled with daily follow up on their project progress.

Image of the competition

“Due to Covid-19, children submitted three minute video explaining details of their projects’ code sources then judges selected the best projects.” Mungwarakarama explained.

Winners and parents speak out

Takunda Stanley Magede, 8 year old is among the three winners. He said that African Code Challenge empowered him a lot to enhance his skills in computer programing.

“African code challenge empowered me in scratching with my project like using Music and Speech, the message I would like to give to other children is to join African Code Challenge. My dreams is to become a footballer and a dentist.” Takunda said.

Ineza Kundwa Kessia, 12 years old is the Best winner of African Code Challenge 2021. She said that the challenge empowered her to make a project dubbed ‘Monkey Eating Bananas’ made through computer programming.

“African Code Challenge empowered me to go on next competition because the skills acquired in computer programming are very useful. I learnt and used my skills to be able to win the contest. The secret behind the success is believing in myself. I would tell other children to respect their gifts and show them because it is very important. My dream is to become a very important person and help people so that I can make good changes to my country. ” said Ineza.

Kenzo Orion Rwema, 11 years old also won the contest as the 3^rd place winner. He said it is a good platform to showcase children’s talents in digital literacy.

“My project was about encouraging people to wear face masks properly and respect social distancing. I would tell other children to explore their dreams and strive to achieve them. My dreams is to become a successful innovator.” Rwema said.

The role of parents

Jimmy Gasore, the father of Orion Kenzo appreciated the work done by Creativity lab to promote Children’s talents in digital literacy.

“I was to provide him with the right tools, I gave him a laptop of mine and a limited access to the internet when I am there to supervise. So, I think that is my work and then I had the opportunity to register him to the creativity lab in Kacyiru where he got basic skills in computer programming. As a parent I think these kinds of activities provide us with alternatives to Television, to games, you know these days’ kids are much consumed into television and paying games which are not actually safe for them, when they get this kind of opportunity, they get to do something that is very useful for them and it is fan.” Gasore noted.

Colm Brophy, Hon. Minister of State for Development Aid and Diaspora within the Irish Aid said that they sponsor such programs to enable African children both boys and girls to learn computer programming within the technology area.

“I think particularly for Rwanda, among many other African countries, children need access to these types of skills at a very early age, we need that countries can have tremendous future in Education Technologies.” He said.

“We have been working with Africa Code Week for about five years, it grew well as an Irish Education initiative, it is an opportunity for us as Irland to draw experience and make sure that Kids in Africa get access to these skills.” Said Ruairî Burea, Assistant Secretary General, Development Cooperation and Africa Division in Irish Aid.

Since its inception in 2015, Africa Code Week believes in the importance of private public partnership in a model where the goal is set at a sustainable impact in the communities.