The Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana (IIPGH) is proud to announce its selection for the 2024-2026 Cohort of the Scratch Education Collaborative (SEC) by the Scratch Foundation. This prestigious recognition marks a significant milestone for IIPGH, as IIPGH joins a distinguished group of 55 organizations from 23 countries, chosen from over 350 applicants worldwide. Notably, IIPGH is the second Ghanaian organization accepted into the SEC since its inception in 2021 and the only Ghanaian organization in the current cohort.
In the words of the Scratch Foundation, our organization brings high-quality computer science education to kids worldwide, as highlighted in this LinkedIn post – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scratchfoundation_scratcheducationcollaborative-activity-7216441841552961536-qx7l?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
The Scratch Education Collaborative (SEC) Initiative
“The Scratch Education Collaborative (SEC) is an initiative that supports and engages participating organizations worldwide in a two-year, collaborative cohort experience to strengthen their organization’s commitment to, and implementation of, equitable creative computing. SEC participants engage in a series of collaborative learning experiences that are co-developed and co-facilitated by Scratch and SEC partner organizations as they work to create a self-sustaining community of practice and establish models for equity-centered creative computing resources.” – Scratch Team
IIPGH’s Journey and Commitment to Creative Coding
Since 2018, IIPGH has been at the forefront of promoting creative coding, and engaging children aged six and above. Recognizing the need to extend our coding program to underserved and unserved communities, IIPGH initiated the Coding Caravan in 2021. This initiative travels from community to community, engaging students in Upper Primary and Junior High Schools with practical creative coding lessons. Each session is equipped with over 100 laptops pre-installed with the Scratch programming tool, ensuring that every student has access to a laptop during these sessions.
Scratch is a free programming language and online community where children can create their own interactive stories, games, and animations. Developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, it encourages creative learning and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.
Our mission places a particular emphasis on historically disadvantaged groups such as girls, physically challenged individuals, and financially disadvantaged students. Given the extensive resources required for these outreaches, IIPGH relies heavily on the benevolence of various organizations. We invite all organizations to partner with us to offer these opportunities to more communities as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
Impact and Reach
Currently, more than 10,000 children across Ghana and beyond have benefited from our programs. Our reach extends beyond Ghana to students in Switzerland, Zimbabwe, and the United States. With the impact IIPGH has made using limited resources, this new partnership with the Scratch Foundation will significantly enhance our delivery of Scratch learning and expand our reach to more children.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Prospects
The SEC initiative is more than just an accolade; it is a commitment to a collaborative learning experience that will enhance our organization’s capabilities and reinforce our mission. Through SEC, IIPGH will engage in a series of learning experiences co-developed and co-facilitated by Scratch and SEC partner organizations. This collaboration aims to establish models for equity-centered creative computing resources.
Our participation in the SEC aligns with our long-term goal of making ICT education accessible to all children, regardless of their background. The resources and support from SEC will enable us to refine our methodologies, introduce new teaching tools, and ultimately provide a more enriching learning experience for our students.
Opportunity for Educators: Join the Scratch Conference 2024
