Published: Mon, 13 October 2014
Share this
Sean Kelly MEP will ask the new European Commission to consider funding innovative initiatives such as ‘CoderDojo’, which was co-founded in Cork by James Whelton and Bill Liao, through the EU’s Erasmus+ funding which covers education and training for youth. Coder Dojo provides an informal, fun setting for children and young people to learn how to write computer code. The South MEP made the call ahead of hosting an EU Coder Dojo event in the European Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday, October 14th), featuring CoderDojo co-founder Bill Liao and Global CEO Mary Maloney, to highlight the importance of encouraging our youngest citizens to pursue interests in computer programming.
“Digital literacy and skills are increasingly vital for every citizen in Europe and particularly for the next generation,” Mr Kelly, Leader of the Fine Gael MEP delegation, said in Brussels today.
“The European Commission itself estimates that there will be 900,000 vacant ICT jobs in Europe by 2015 due to a skills shortage in that area. That is why I am delighted to host CoderDojo, a global movement founded in Cork, which runs free coding clubs for young people at a special event in the Parliament this week.”
30 young people from Poland, Romania, Italy, the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands involved in their local Dojos will travel to Brussels to showcase their coding and digital skills and teach MEPs their first line of code. Two young people will also be exhibiting the projects that they have worked on and perfected during their CoderDojo sessions to the MEPs and Industry Leaders.
Mr Kelly is also encouraging MEPs in attendance to become CoderDojo Ambassadors, and get involved in addressing the digital skills gap. MEPs will be asked to pledge to get a Dojo up and running in their constituency/Member State before EU Code Week 2015.
Contact information:
Sean Kelly MEP 087 690 600
Cliona Connolly 003247 595 7874
CoderDojo media enquiries:
Peter O’Shea [email protected] 087 653 7694
“CoderDojo is a global network of volunteer-led, independent, community based programming clubs for young people. These young people, between 7 and 17, learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs, games and explore technology.” More:www.coderdojo.com
