Microsoft CoerDojo announcement

Microsoft becomes official CoderDojo partner

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Pictured is Cathriona Hallahan, Microsoft Ireland Mary Moloney, CoderDojo Foundation, and Eric and Elliot Meagher, St Mary's Rathfarnham

20 April 2015

Microsoft announced it will become an official European partner for the CoderDojo Foundation & Movement at an event at the company’s Sandyford base today.

The 12-month partnership will give all European dojos access to Microsoft’s DreamSpark programme, which provides access to software for learning, teaching and research purposes at no charge. Microsoft has also pledged to promote CoderDojo to its 25,000 employees in Europe, using the club it hosts in its Sandyford office as a model.

Microsoft will also be a platinum partner at the upcoming Coder Dojo Coolest Projects Competition, which is the largest coding competition for kids globally, taking place in the RDS, Dublin,  on 13 June.

At present there are 650 dojos operating in 57 countries around the world, reaching 30,000 young people regularly.

Microsoft’s existing global YouthSpark outreach programme created opportunities for 227 million young people, including 40.8 million across Europe through a mix of education, job-readiness, entrepreneurship programmes and partnerships with youth-focused nonprofit entities.

As part of the partnership Microsoft will be supporting and collaborating with the CoderDojo Foundation over the next 12 months, including developing resources like instructional videos for volunteers on pedagogy, mentoring and child protection best practice.

Cathriona Hallahan, managing director, Microsoft Ireland, said: “Ensuring we educate our youth with the skills to work in these roles is essential. CoderDojo plays an important role in this regard and together we want to encourage every young person across Europe the opportunity to discover their digital potential and gain access to a CoderDojo club.”

Mary Moloney, CEO of the CoderDojo Foundation, said: “The support that Microsoft is providing to CoderDojo across Europe will enable the community to grow and to reach more kids and young people, enabling them to develop technology, innovation and entrepreneurial skills. As an organisation with such a strong portfolio of great technology products and with a talented workforce of skilled technologists, Microsoft is well positioned to support new and existing Dojos all over Europe.”

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