Help | Teach South African Kids to Code

There has been a global drive in recent years to teach programming to kids in schools. This is a huge opportunity for kids, and more so for South African kids. South Africa is a unique country with unique challenges. Most South African schools lack basic needs such as running water. Computers are perceived as a ‘luxury item’ and, as a result, kids in these communities have never seen, let alone use a computer before. How do we ensure that these kids still get to learn to code (the right way) despite all these proudly South African challenges?

For Mandla Magagula, who grew up under these circumstances, this is a very personal thing. Though a lot of determination and sacrifice, sometimes forgoing things like basic toiletries he managed to put himself through college to get a degree in Computer Science. Today he is a .net developer by day for Driven Software in Johannesburg while teaching a class of 12 disadvantaged kids on the weekends how to write Python. He is also going to be a speaker next month at Rubyfuza (currently the only Ruby Developers conference in South Africa).

One of the biggest challenges the classes currently face is getting enough computers for the kids to use. They currently have 5 computers for a class of 12 students. Yet on the flip side many of us here in the US, especially those in the tech field usually get rid of our computers after a few years usually donating them or throwing them out. But what if that machine could be used to make a difference in someone’s life?

If you have a functional laptop that is 10 years old or newer that you are no longer using consider donating it to grow this movement. Also if you are someone who is traveling to Johannesburg and have some unused baggage allowance they could also use your help getting the machines over there.

About the AuthorLance Gleason, Southern Polytechnic State University grad and owner of Polyglot Programming, is currently co-coordinating an effort to collect and transport these machines from Atlanta over the South Africa to help grow the movement.  If you would like to donate machines or if there is something else you would like to do to help please contact him at lgleason@polyglotprogramminginc.com.