Nearly 70 Ethiopian teenagers aged 10-17 have successfully completed the Coding School in Addis Ababa, delivered by ThinkYoung and Boeing.
The program empowers Ethiopian youth with advanced digital skills, creating new opportunities for their future careers. The annual Coding School is an important enabler in achieving Ethiopia’s goal of equipping 70% of its population with essential digital skills. As part of the program, ThinkYoung and Boeing connected the students with tech industry and aviation professionals and trained participants in programming, robotics and drone technologies.
Fikir Gedion, 11-year old alumnus of the Coding School in Ethiopia, shared his experience: “The program has enabled me to gain a better understanding and practical knowledge of programming, robotics and drones. I had a lot of fun and would like to continue learning coding”.
“We were thrilled to partner with Boeing for the 20th edition of ThinkYoung Coding School,” said Andrea Gerosa, Founder of ThinkYoung. “Combined, our joint programs have empowered over 1400+ teenagers globally. Our collaboration continues to grow.”
Kuljit Ghata-Aura, Boeing President in the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, said: “Boeing is committed to supporting Ethiopia’s journey in building a robust STEM education ecosystem. Together with our partners, we can unlock Ethiopia’s true potential and solidify its current leadership position, while strengthening the African aviation industry for future generations.”
In Africa, the Coding Schools have expanded to Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. To date, approximately 600 students have participated in the program in Africa, with around 200 of them in 2023. By design, more than 60% of participants of the Coding School are girls. By breaking stigmas, the program provides them with role models, early exposure to computer science, and a supportive environment.
Boeing has partnered with over 40 organizations and invested more than $22 million since 2006 to drive systemic improvements in education and economic transformation in Africa. In Ethiopia, Boeing’s community projects prioritize STEM education, women’s empowerment, and the establishment of a talent pipeline of aviation professionals in collaboration with the government, Ethiopian Airlines, ThinkYoung, Addis Ababa University Institute of Technology and others.
ThinkYoung is the first think tank that focuses on young people. It was founded in 2009 and has expanded to have offices in Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong, and Nairobi. It is a not-for-profit organization, with the aim of making the world a better place for young people, by involving them in decision-making processes and by providing decision-makers with high-quality research on youth’s conditions. ThinkYoung conducts studies and surveys, makes advocacy campaigns, writes policy proposals, and develops education programs. Up to date, ThinkYoung projects have reached over 800,000 young people.