By: Deborah Ofori-Dartey
The Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana engaged 200 Girls and 30 Teachers in the Ablekuma West Municipal of the Greater Accra Region, in a 1-day practical ICT skills workshop on 12th June 2024, marking the opening of the 2024 Coding Caravan.
This significant event, organized by the Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana (IIPGH) and the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) to commemorate International Girls in ICT Day, was held at the Dansoman ‘A’ Cluster of Schools. Although the official day was on 25th April, the celebration was postponed to June as schools were out of session then. This year marked the fourth consecutive year since 2021, the Coding Caravan initiative was conceived by the Institute.
The theme for this year’s event, “Breaking Barriers: Coding, Leadership, and Inclusion for All,” highlighted the commitment of both organizations to ensure that no child is left behind in the quest to equip young minds with competitive digital skills. This dedication was evident as the session engaged these students and teachers in various hands-on activities including creating animations with Scratch, designing 3D objects with Tinkertoys, and learning how a 3D printer works. A new addition to this year’s Caravan is the hands-on Internet of Things (IoT) project, creating a traffic light system using the IIPGH Arduino Kit and Arduino Software.
The event was a rewarding experience, transforming students’ initial unfamiliarity with Scratch into confident problem-solving skills. The students showed a deep curiosity, asking questions to seek further clarification on the lessons. Following the sessions, the students rotated classes to ensure that all 200 girls experienced all three lessons. There was a separate session for the teacher to equip them continue the ICT skills training in their various schools long after the workshop.
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, during the opening ceremony, engaged with the students. He educated them on the practical uses of ICT and challenged them to think about how they could use ICT to address community issues. He emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunity to learn these valuable skills, noting that many others do not have such opportunities.
Ursula Owusu, the Member of Parliament for the Municipal and the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, shared her experiences of growing up without access to such opportunities. She encouraged the girls to focus and take full advantage of the resources available to them. She also mentioned an upcoming ICT competition that promised rewards for the girls who participated. The Municipal Chief Executive echoed these sentiments, reinforcing the importance of the event and the opportunities it presented. The District Education Director and Greater Accra Girl Child Coordinator were also present.
The event also highlighted the history of the Coding Caravan, which started in 2022 to promote digital literacy among young girls in Ghana. Over the years, the initiative has grown significantly, reaching more students and expanding its range of activities. The Coding Caravan has been instrumental in inspiring a new generation of girls to pursue careers in technology and leadership, breaking down barriers, and promoting inclusivity in the ICT sector.
Despite the overall success, the event faced several challenges, primarily financial constraints that limited the number of girls who could be trained. The financial challenge underscored the need for additional support to expand the program’s reach and impact. With more funding and support from Government and Private agencies, “The Coding Caravan” could engage more students, provide better resources, and ensure that no child is left behind in the digital age.
The event’s success was due in large part to the dedication and hard work of the tutors, who engaged the students and teachers with interactive sessions that sparked excitement and a desire for more learning. The tutors’ efforts were evident in the squeals of excitement from the students and their beaming faces with pride at being able to create simple games, animations, 3D objects, and robotic projects. For the organizers, contributing to the digital literacy of Ghana, empowering girls in ICT, and providing these opportunities for free was immensely satisfying.
Despite limited resources, IIPGH and GCT have managed to keep this wonderful initiative running for three consecutive years. Support in the form of funding, sharing our impact with your network, government support, and assistance from the international community will enable more students to be equipped with coding skills.
In conclusion, the 2024 Coding Caravan is a testament to the power of collaboration and commitment to advancing ICT education. The event highlights the critical role of empowering young girls with digital skills, preparing them for a future where technology plays an increasingly vital role. With continued support and improvement, The Coding Caravan can continue to inspire and equip more young girls with the skills they need to succeed in the digital world. The excitement and pride seen on students’ faces as they created simple games, animations, 3D objects, and robotic projects were heartwarming. For the organizers, contributing to the digital literacy of Ghana and empowering girls in ICT remains a great pleasure and a driving force behind the initiative.
The writer is the Digital Skills Training Supervisor at the Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana with about 5 years’ experience engaging children ages 6years – 14 years in Creative Coding Experiences.
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