CODE Kids NATIONAL SCIENCE FAIR 2022 IS OPEN ON NOVEMBER 19th TO ALL BUCHAREST INHABITANTS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A new edition of the National Science Fair CODE Kids 2022 will take place on Saturday, November 19, starting at 11.00 a.m., at NOD Makerspace (Splaiul Unirii 160). The best projects made by mini-coders in the free robotics and programming clubs organized by the Progress Foundation in rural libraries all over the country will arrive in Bucharest. 13 clubs have been invited to the national phase of the competition, where the children will present their ideas in front of a jury made up of professionals from companies. They will point out both the technical implementation of the projects, as well as the positive change they produce in society and the way the little ones present themselves to the public.

All children from Bucharest who are passionate about technology and science are invited to participate in the event, who can thus vote for their favorite ideas and participate in robotics and 3D printer workshops, to live the experience of a CODE Kids club for a day. Among the surprises awaiting the little ones is an exhibition of digital artwork and installations that use technology in surprising ways and live electro-pop music. The event will end with the CODE Kids Gala, where representatives of partner authorities, companies sponsoring the social project and surprise guests will award prizes to the most successful projects. The presenters of this edition are the journalist Toader Păun and the little coder Alexandru Vlădescu (13 years old), member of the CODE Kids club from the village of Francești, Vâlcea county.

The National Science Fair is part of the CODE Kids – Program the Future of Your Community project developed by Progress Foundation and aims to create a coding and STEM movement where children, young people and librarians from rural and urban areas develop their digital skills and get involved in the life of the community they come from, by solving digital and creative themes. This year’s edition is sponsored by the Romanian-American Foundation, Societe Generale Global Solution Centre, Centrul Cultural Expo Arte, Thoughtworks, DelicioUS, CEZ Vânzare and has as partners the Authority for Digitization of Romania and Radio Romania Cultural.

About CODE Kids and the Progress Foundation

CODE Kids has turned into the largest national coding and STEM movement in 6 years of operation, with more than 4,600 children from 33 counties benefiting from free programming courses organized in public libraries. In 2022 there are 110 active clubs nationwide, in which 1200 children are enrolled, thus transforming public libraries into true community hubs. The program proposes a digital literacy solution among children from rural and small urban areas. Students aged 10-14 have access for 2 years to cutting-edge technology and specialized training and learn to code to solve small problems identified in their community, while developing their maths, logic, English and software skills skills. CODE Kids is the flagship project of the Progress Foundation, awarded in 2022 in Brussels at the Emerging Europe Awards competition with the top prize in the Future-proof Education category.

Progress Foundation is a non-governmental organization established in 1996 in Bistrita which contributes to the development of community institutions, vulnerable individuals and groups and helps people become stronger through education, technology, research and innovation. The organization supports citizens to evolve, realize their potential and achieve well-being in sustainable and resilient communities. Through the partnerships created, the Progress Foundation focuses on facilitating lifelong learning, transferring innovation, creating IT and STEM skills, and developing new methodologies for participatory design and social inclusion. In order to achieve its goals and to reach any social group, the organization uses public libraries and community spaces in villages and cities as focal points of learning and centers of social innovation. www.progressfoundation.ro.