Yes We Code W

hen it comes to learning skills beyond the core subjects covered in school, not all of Calgary’s children are on an even playing field. Advanced computer science education programs are often only available at select schools or camps as extracurricular activities and can come with a hefty admission fee. Recognizing that a lack of access to coding and technology classes puts marginalized kids at a disadvantage, the Hakili Community for Sustainable Development decided to do something about it.

Hakili is a collective of primarily racialized individuals that works to develop programs to support parents and educational initiatives that enrich youth to fight inter-generational poverty and empower families. Noting the disparity in accessing technology instruction for kids led to the development of a free program called Yes We Code that launched in 2019.

“As we’ve seen with the pandemic and rapid development of technology in recent years, acquiring these skills is no longer a luxury, it’s becoming a necessity,” says Camilia Thieba, Hakili’s founder and CEO. “If we didn’t act now and take things into our own hands, the kids in the community are at risk of becoming doubly marginalized.”