Published: Wed, 15 October 2014
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Sean Kelly MEP has challenged every Member of the European Parliament to help set up a CoderDojo computer coding club in their constituency. The Ireland South MEP set the challenge while hosting a special CoderDojo MEP teaching workshop in the Parliament today (Tuesday). Marking ‘EU Code Week’, the CoderDojo event involved youngsters from Ireland, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Romania and Poland taught MEPs how to write code.
“Little over a year and a half ago, I hosted the first ever EU Dojo event in the European Parliament. At the time, Coder Dojo was little over one year old and was active in 10 member states. Now, there are over 500 clubs in 50 countries, 350 of those clubs are Europe-based. That’s remarkable growth,” Mr Kelly said in praising the volunteer-led CoderDojo initiative which was co-founded in Cork by James Whelton and Bill Liao.
“For my fellow MEPs, I have a call to action – to become ‘CoderDojo Ambassadors’ by helping to set up a club in their own constituency so their youngest constituents can have the chance to learn how to write code,” he continued.
“I have already proposed that the new European Commission investigates the possibility of funding CoderDojo clubs through Erasmus+ funding. In his hearing, I asked the Commissioner-designate for the Digital Agenda if he would consider this and, while he could not commit formally at this point, he was supportive of the idea,” said Mr Kelly.
MEP Kelly´s interview with BBC2 NI, BBC Gaelige
Contact information:
Sean Kelly MEP 087 690 600
Cliona Connolly 003247 595 7874
“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
