Bringing technology education to the South Dublin County community is part of the mission at South Dublin County Partnership (SDCP) . A nonprofit dedicated to tackling poverty and social exclusion, SDCP partners with Microsoft and others to deliver digital literacy programs for all ages, levels of expertise, and interests. Since 2019, SDCP’s Balgaddy Child and Family Centre has extended the digital literacy effort to children and their families with a series of free, fun coding programs.

Membangun kepercayaan diri dan keterampilan digital melalui desain video game

The Balgaddy Child and Family Centre coding clubs spark kids’ interest in technology through video game design. The two clubs—Coding Club for kids 9-12 and We Can Code, an inclusive club for kids with additional needs—introduce children to ‘arcade coding,’ challenging them to build their own gaming adventures. Each 10-week session kicks off with a trip to Microsoft Dream Space , the company’s innovation and education hub where young people can engage in a fully immersive STEM experience and develop their digital skills. The young coders dream up their own video game idea and then spend eight weeks at the South Dublin Balgaddy Child and Family Centre with a trained instructor learning to code it. On the final week, they return to Dream Space with family and friends to share and play their creations.

The chance to design—not just play—a game lights up kids’ imaginations and gives them creative agency. “He is very enthusiastic,” says one parent. “Wouldn’t miss a week and loves talking about it.” Another describes “the joy of watching my son so happy…that there is a world out there [and] he fits in perfectly.” As they come together to play and create, kids build friendships and a sense of belonging. “My daughter has autism and the coding club was a great chance for her to mix with other kids who enjoy similar interests to her,” comments a coding club parent.

Selain menjadi tuan rumah bagi para peserta program percontohan di pusat inovasi dan pendidikan Microsoft Dream Space di kampusnya di Dublin, Microsoft juga menyediakan pelatihan guru, teknologi, dan Wi-Fi untuk mendukung klub-klub pengkodean SDCP.

Mendukung literasi digital bagi warga Dublin Selatan

Klub pengkodean Balgaddy Child and Family Centre merupakan bagian dari inisiatif yang lebih besar di South Dublin County Partnership untuk mempromosikan literasi digital di antara penduduk Tallaght dan Clondalkin, mulai dari anak muda hingga orang dewasa, serta dari pengguna internet tingkat dasar hingga calon profesional di bidang teknologi. Program SDCP melayani orang dewasa di semua tingkat keahlian dan minat. Sebuah "DigiHero" menghubungkan orang-orang dengan program yang paling sesuai dengan kebutuhan mereka, mulai dari kelas "Pengenalan Komputer" untuk pemula hingga pelatihan karier melalui program pelatihan keterampilan digital StepIn2Tech dari Microsoft Irlandia. Inisiatif ini juga mendukung mereka yang baru saja lulus sekolah atau perguruan tinggi atau berada di pertengahan karier dan tertarik untuk mengembangkan keterampilan digital mereka.

Dengan Balgaddy Centre Coding Clubs dan Let's Get Digital, SDCP membantu menjembatani kesenjangan digital dan membuat teknologi tersedia bagi semua orang di South Dublin County.

Learn more about how Microsoft is working with local nonprofits to empower everyone to participate in Ireland’s digital economy. Digital Wealth , Maynooth University ALL AI Academy for Good , Maynooth University STEMpathy , South Dublin