Technology Classes Will Be Established in Villages for the “Coding Tomorrow” Project

Vodafone Turkey Foundation and Habitat Association continue to expand the scope of the "Coding Tomorrow" project they launched 5 years ago. Thanks to the project, well-equipped technology classes will be opened in 30 rural schools to expand the accessibility of technology for students in rural areas. Students will be given various technology-related training in these classes, which will also be used as EBA Support Points, particularly coding.

Launched to raise generations ready for the digital future byVodafone Turkey Foundation andHabitat Association, the "Coding Tomorrow" project has taken a new step to provide equal opportunity in education. As the project enters its fifth year, well-equipped technology classes will be opened in 30 rural schools to expand the accessibility of technology for students in rural areas. Students will receive training on various technology topics, primarily coding, in the classrooms equipped with projectors, 3D pens, computers, 3D printers, education and STEM kits, and communication & event tools for Zoom. These technology classes to be opened in rural schools will also serve as EBA Support Points. Also, special meetings and training will be organized for families to help them learn 21st-century competencies, resources they can utilize in the digital world, and critical matters to be paid attention to.

Technology classes to be established in rural regions within the "Coding Tomorrow" project have been introduced at the online meeting held with the participation of Mr. Anıl Yılmaz, the General Manager of MEB (the Ministry of Education) YEĞİTEK, Mr. Hasan Süel, the Chair of Vodafone Turkey Foundation, and Mr. Sezai Hazır, the Chair of Habitat Association.

Mr. Anıl Yılmaz, the General Manager of MEB YEĞİTEK , stated:

"Due to the Covid-19 global epidemic, we are going through tough times. As the Ministry of Education, we put our hearts into providing our children with uninterrupted education under any circumstance. We continue to deliver distance education interchangeably with our EBA TV channels, live lessons, and EBA internet platform. With the vision of prioritizing equality in opportunity, we always strive to maximize access to education with free internet and 700,000 tablet computers in 81 provinces, over 15,000 EBA Support Points, Mobile EBA Support Tools, and webcams we supply to 115,000 classrooms. Firstly, I would like to thank Vodafone Turkey Foundation and Habitat Association for supporting our efforts. Their support is valuable to us for two reasons: First, EBA Support Points will be established in 30 more rural schools. Secondly, which I think is even more valuable, this support will contribute to our goal of raising children, within the framework of the 2023 Education Vision, who will become equipped with informatics competencies, producers, and innovators. Accordingly, we have been implementing the Production With Informatics program, which we regularly expand, for three years. Also, technology classes in 30 village schools to be established within the 'Coding Tomorrow' project, which is now being announced, will contribute to this program.

Mr. Hasan Süel, the Chair of Vodafone Turkey Foundation , stated:

"At Vodafone Turkey Foundation, we believe that each work we do should serve a purpose. Since the beginning, we have adopted the principle of putting technology into the service of life. With our 'Coding Tomorrow' project, which we implemented 5 years ago in collaboration with the Habitat Association to improve children's technology literacy, we aim to help raise a generation that produces, not consumes. Until today, we have given coding training to over 120,000 children in 81 provinces. In the upcoming period, we aim to reach 70,000 more children. As the next step of our 'Coding Tomorrow' project, we will open technology classes in villages. These classes will also serve as EBA Support Points. With this project, we aim to find a solution to the inequality of opportunity in education experienced by our children in disadvantaged areas and help them have uninterrupted education by providing them with connectivity services in fully equipped technology classrooms. Thus, we hope to ease some of the challenges faced by our children. As Vodafone Turkey Foundation, we will continue to prepare our children for the digital future and mobilize our resources to provide our children with equal opportunities in education by leveraging the power of technology."

Mr. Sezai Hazır, the Chair of Habitat Association , also stated:

"We feel right proud and happy to expand and enrich the content of the 'Coding Tomorrow' project, which we implemented with the Vodafone Turkey Foundation 5 years ago. As part of this project, we provide coding training to our children aged 7-14 across our country. That is because we know that learning how to code will be as important as literacy in the future. To this date, we have reached over 120,000 children in 81 provinces and given them coding training, a fundamental 21st-century competency. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 outbreak has deeply affected formal education, just like many other areas, moving educational activities to the digital environment and heating our discussions on equal opportunity in education all the more so. Thus, we will continue to expand the 'Coding Tomorrow' project's scope and open fully equipped technology classes in our 30 rural schools to create equal opportunities for our children who experience disadvantages in accessing online education. Consequently, we aim to enhance our children's access to education and technology. We are also pleased to share the news at such a meaningful time as 23 April, National Sovereignty and Children's Day."

Technology classes will build a collaborative working culture

With technology classes to be opened in rural schools within the "Coding Tomorrow" project, it is aimed to increase inclusive access to education and technology in rural areas, promote the efficient use of the internet and technology, expand children's imaginations with diverse perspectives, and build socialization areas and collaborative working cultures by establishing a bridge of communication with other technology classes.

The project will create a "Technology Fellowship"

Besides enabling to launch of "Coding Tomorrow" schools and clubs, technology classes to be established in rural schools will provide an opportunity to perform activities regarding "technology fellowship," such as inter-school expert meetings. These classes will allow giving in-depth education to children with teachers, monitor the project's effects and changes in children, and create success stories. Besides contributing to the creation of a culture of sharing, the technology classes also create an opportunity to produce solutions for the needs of the rural areas with 3D printers and 3D pens, build a collaborative working culture with other villages via digital processes, and allow other students and parents to leverage the classes and materials.

The technology classes will be established in 30 provinces

The provinces with rural schools where technology classes will be established within the "Coding Tomorrow" project are Adana, Burdur, Hatay, Ardahan, Hakkari, Kars, Şırnak, Tunceli, Van, Aydın, Denizli, Manisa, Uşak, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Siirt, Şanlıurfa, Ankara, Çankırı, Karaman, Sivas, Bolu, Amasya, Ordu, Trabzon, Bilecik, Çanakkale, İstanbul, Kırklareli, and Kocaeli. The establishment of these technology classes will start in June.

The project has reached over 120,000 children

Within the "Coding Tomorrow" project, children between 7-14 across Turkey receive theoretical and practical training by volunteer trainers on various subjects, including the introduction to programming, algorithm logic, application development, storytelling, and game development. Our training helps our children understand programming, work to bring out their creativity, create their imaginary worlds, and produce their games. While the project achieved 6,6 million TRY of social value last year, each investment of 1 TRY for the project yielded a social return of4,4 TRY. So far, the project has reached over 120,000 children in 81 provinces. For the upcoming period, it is aimed to provide coding training to 70,000 more children. Besides Scratch training, children's digital competencies will be improved with digital training on various subjects. Accordingly, children aged 7-10 receive Scratch and Tinkercad training, children aged 11-14 receive Scratch and Microbit training, and children aged 14-17 receive mobile application development, game, and Artificial Intelligence training.