Avye’s mission to make coding an inclusive activity for all

International Day of the Girl is a significant date for all of us, as more girls worldwide join coding clubs in their communities.  To celebrate the date, we’d like to share one girl’s incredible CoderDojo story.

 

 

How Avye discovered her passion for technology

Avye, 11, is a young tech creator from London. She embodies the ethos of CoderDojo in her mission to make coding an inclusive, creative, and fun activity for all. 

Avye discovered her passion for technology when she began attending her local CoderDojo in Ham. At the Dojo, she was introduced to Micro:bits and the different ways of using physical computing to upcycle objects — inspiration that continues to inform her creations today!

“I really loved the [Micro:bit] workshops at the Dojo, and I began to use what I had learned to continue tinkering around at home.”

 

Sharing skills through hands-on workshops

Avye continued to grow as a tech creator by running the Dojo’s Micro:bit workshops. As a result, she grew in confidence while developing incredible ideas and creations with her peers, such as an electronic Hogwarts sorting hat!

A Micro:bit-powered Hogwarts sorting hat

“The CoderDojo community were very supportive, and [mentors] Ben and Val encouraged me and helped me to gain the confidence to give it a go. I now run regular workshops at Kingston University and at the University of West London.”

Peter, the champion of the Kingston Dojo, commends Avye’s efforts with the workshops:

“Although only 11 years old, she plans, prepares, and runs the sessions with only minimal help from her parents or other mentors. Truly remarkable.”

 

New possibilities

CoderDojo has opened the door to a world of possibilities for Avye:

“CoderDojo has allowed me to meet different members of the tech and maker community. […] Running regular workshops in such a supportive environment has given me the drive and confidence to go on and create more opportunities for young people to get involved in tech and coding.”

Ayve continues to do amazing things and is an exceptional role model for girls in STEM. Some of her key achievements include:

• Winning in the Hardware category at Coolest Projects UK in 2018 with her voice-controlled robot Voice O’tronik Bot 
• Being honoured with a 2019 Princess Diana Award for her work creating tech opportunities for girls
• Organising her own Girls Into Coding events at the Microsoft Reactor London.

 

Inspired by Avye’s story?

Like Avye, our mission is to make coding an inclusive activity for all young people. If you’d like to learn how to get more girls involved at your Dojo, check out our Girls Initiative.