CoderDojo named Global Champions at World Summit Awards

On June 28th Giustina, our Head of Development traveled to Singapore on behalf of CoderDojo. There she met with more than 40 other representatives of digital innovations that create sustainable social change at the World Summit Awards Social Innovation Congress (WSA).

CoderDojo was one of five organisations who were shortlisted and awarded in the Learning & Science category of WSA. The Awards’ objective is to select and promote the best practices in digital social innovation from all UN member states. We were delighted to receive this prize in itself, but there was more to come!

In the opening address of the WSA, Giustina listened as Chairperson Peter A. Bruck asked the audience of social innovators, ICT experts and stakeholders:

“How do we use technology in a creative way for the benefit of society?”

Giustina presented on behalf of the CoderDojo community to answer this question. She explained the gaps between the growing need for technology skills, the lack of diversity in tech and unemployment in other areas. She illustrated the benefits of CoderDojo in terms of the tech creativity, innovation and confidence it develops in youths. In addition, the CoderDojo Foundation’s aspirations to reach more underserved areas and increase the diversity of youth participating in CoderDojo were highlighted.

After all the organisations presented their organisations, and discussed how they can learn from each other’s experience of using digital technologies to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, they attended the official awards ceremony.

 

At the awards ceremony on July 1st, CoderDojo were named as the Global Champion in the Learning and Science category. This was decided by a combination of online public voting and a grand jury.

“Becoming the Global Champion in the Learning and Science category at the 2016 World Summit Awards was an honour for CoderDojo. It was inspiring to spend three days immersed with like minded individuals, who are all focused on positively impacting their countries and the world through their initiatives. I’m confident that our participation at the WSA will lead to new Dojos in many countries ”

– Giustina Mizzoni, Head of Development, CoderDojo Foundation.

 

Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth with CoderDojo’s Giustina Mizzoni at the World Summit Awards ceremony.

You can see the slides Giustina presented at the World Summit Awards here.