Digital Locals is a free learning platform. This learning platform is aimed at children who have little or no access to education. The children Digital Locals want to reach are mainly orphans, refugees and children whose parents are in prostitution or prison.

The platform aims to teach children from 10 years old and onwards the skills needed to become a great programmer, such as: 

• Solving challenges by logical and sequential thinking
• Turning ideas into reality with processes by design approach
• Trial-and-error approach 
• Creativity 
• Teamwork 
• English language 

These skills are taught in a 5 to 6-year program divided over 15 modules. In the first years, this is through the use of platforms such as MakeCode and Lego Education among others. These platforms allow young children to learn coding without actually writing any code.

After these first 3 years they are introduced into actual programing languages such as JavaScript, HTML, Python, Java. In these more advanced classes, they will benefit from the broad knowledge they acquired during the first couple of years on how to structure their ideas and how to construct programs.

Close the Gap supported this project with 8 laptops, which the children will use in their IT and coding classes. Just last week, the children could enjoy their very first classes with these computers.

Are you also interested in bridging the digital divide and in supporting projects such as this one with your company's computer material? Click here to donate.