The Hour of Code is a global movement that aims to drive communities to share basic coding lessons with anyone in need of them, including schoolchildren in dense residential areas with limited access to technology.

Started by nonprofit platform code.org, the Hour of Code movement aims to make government officials, teachers, parents and students aware of the importance of code learning as a way for young children to develop logical thinking.

In Jakarta, the movement was initiated by several communities who wanted to help children with educational needs, including by a group of Ipeka Integrated Christian School students in West Jakarta calling themselves GenDigital.

GenDigital leader Issac Edwin Winoto said he and his friends had routinely taught coding at various places in West Jakarta every Saturday since April.

Edwin said they wanted to share their knowledge with children aged eight to 11, which included the alpha generation born in the 2010s, since the latter had great interest in learning technology.

“In order for the children to better understand technology, we lend them our iPads as learning tools. So one day when they have their own, they will not use them only to play games,” Edwin added.

Edwin said his team had collaborated with Christian humanitarian and social foundation Wahana Visi to hold events and expand their outreach, including to the Rusun Jatinegara Barat apartments.

Rayyan, one of the children living in the apartment compound, said he was delighted to participate in the event and hoped it would continue in the future.

“I didn’t know before that we could learn a lot just by using an iPad. I really enjoy the lessons as they are taught in a fun way and are less serious than learning at school,” Rayyan said. (syk)