Technology has without a doubt shifted the world’s paradigm in our means of communication, education, and how accessible we are to each other, regardless of geography. Unfortunately, many countries in Africa still have yet to catch up to the full range of opportunities afforded through our technological advances because of one simple thing: digital literacy. Having to contend with lack of resources is one thing, but this woman proves that with the power of resolve, anything is possible.

Photo: Ghana Code Club
Photo: Ghana Code Club

There’s a movement underway in Ghana and Ernsestina Appiah is leading the way in teaching the country’s next generation how to code. In 2015, Appiah launched her organization Ghana Code Club, where she runs after-school programs teaching children basic coding and programming skills. We talked to her about her mission with GCC and the importance of digital literacy to Ghana’s future.

Photo: Ghana Code Club
Photo: Ghana Code Club

1. What has this process of starting Ghana Code Club been like?

Ghana Code Club should have been in operation since 2007 when I first registered my NGO, Healthy Career Initiative. We weren’t active for all these years due to my busy schedule, but then when my son turned 5, I was searching for a children’s platform to start training him on basic programming when I came across a group of students in the UK creating stuff with the MaKey technology. This triggered my passion for my dormant NGO and I quickly thought of reviving it by visiting nearby schools to teach the kids to start creating digital making using the same technology.
2. How difficult was this given the resources needed to teach digital literacy?
I know we lack the resources to make it easy for learning but the typical Ghanaian child is used to learning the hard way and still coming out with good results. Fortunately, the first school I approached gave me the go ahead to inspire these kids with digital skills for an hour, [once] a week. I got more empowered after the first session because I never forgot the smiles on the kids faces upon seeing the scratch mascot* for the first time.
Photo: Ghana Code Club
Photo: Ghana Code Club
*Scratch is a visual programming tool which allows the user to create animations and games with a drag-and-drop interface. It allows you to create your own computer games, interactive stories, and animations using some programming techniques.
3. Tell us about working with Africa Code Week.
The moment I resumed teaching these kids I took the opportunity to share my weekly experience in the classroom on social media and then, I got the opportunity to be an ambassador from Ghana for
Africa Code Week. Africa Code Week is a weekly event that embarks the African child to be introduced to the coding language as we believe every child must be fluent with coding literacy. I took this opportunity to involve more schools, as my vision is the same as Africa Code Week; this was how we spread in more schools.

4. How many volunteers are there? 

Even though there are over 50 volunteers waiting to hit the classrooms, Ghana Code Club has only 14 active volunteers including seven ICT (Information and Communication Technology) teachers as of February 2016 attending to over 900 children from seven different schools, and one church. Our volunteers work hand in hand with the ICT teachers who are also part of the coding movement. We have projects in Scratch, HTML + CSS and in Python. Before a lesson begins, the volunteers hold up laptops to inspire the kids on what they are about to create. This is because we do not have projectors in 99% of schools, and there is no Internet connection in 99% of the schools for children to sit and watch by themselves. If we don’t hold out the laptops, then all the kids will gather around one computer to view the finished product from.
Photo: Ghana Code Club
Photo: Ghana Code Club
The reason why there are so many volunteers in waiting is because the Code Club needs to organize itself to provide some basic resources and project materials to back volunteers up. 99% of schools in Ghana have no Internet connection. I feel very embarrassed that the Code Club does not have resources to meet up with volunteers expectations. A lot of them keep writing to us asking when our training is ​taking place and we keep postponing dates. The Ghana Code Club is soliciting for serious support in this area. Thousands of kids are in waiting to be introduced to digital skills, hundreds of volunteers are in waiting to join the movement. We need maximum support.
Photo: Ghana Code Club
Photo: Ghana Code Club

5. There are still economic and other sociopolitical issues that Africa, in general, is facing. Why is digital literacy a priority in Ghana’s future?

The computer has become a part of global business and the education culture, to this end digital literacy has a direct effect on any country’s economy including Ghana. Just as digital literacy is on the rise worldwide, Ghana must also lay more emphasis to equip the next generation by providing adequate infrastructure in schools and making it more available to the average person to pursue digital careers. The digital divide story must be a thing of the past.

6. What has been the most memorable moment of this experience.

One parent confessed to me that his son used to love playing games a lot. Now, this same boy creates his own games and watches on with admiration while his friends and family have fun with his own creation. That’s what I’m talking about, the child has moved from using to creating technology. Who knows, as the year passes by his interest in computer science might rise so high, and this same child may become an icon solving a particular problem in society.

Photo: pinterest
Photo: pinterest

7. What’s going to be the defining moment for you in the future? The one when you look back on all of your efforts and say, “This is what it’s about!”

When a lot of the Code Club members or kids are creating, pursuing other digital making activities as a hobby or in higher institutions or in their careers. When they are trending in global technology blog posts, receiving recognition for solving problems then we can be proud to say yes!

Photo: Ghana Code Club
Photo: Ghana Code Club

8. How can people connect and support GCC?

People can visit our Ghana Code Club website to donate in cash or kind. We need equipment such as projectors, Internet data modems/routers, portable power supply, laptops, printers, cameras.  We can accept cash donations through Azimo. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

And spread the word about this awesome club!

Photo: youtube
Photo: youtube

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