Finastra introduces over 580 kids in the UAE to the world of coding with Hour of Code program

For the second year since the inception of its Corporate Social Responsibility program, Finastra in collaboration with Code.org, teamed up Innoventures Education and two local schools to introduce young minds to the world of coding and computer science. The initiative is part of Finastra’s long-term commitment to delivering computer science skills to children and young people in the rapidly advancing digital Middle East.

The Hour of Code initiative is designed to demystify code and broaden participation in the field of computer science. During a week-long event, Finastra hosted over 580 students from Dubai International Academy (DIA) Emirates Hills and Dubai International Academy Al Barsha. The children had the opportunity to design and execute commands within a gaming environment such as Star Wars or Flappy Bird. Younger children, between seven and nine years of age, used ‘blocks’ of code in a drag-and-drop environment, while older children learned to write code in JavaScript.

According to the World Economic Forum’s report on ‘Future of Jobs and Skills’, 65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist. Participation in the program allows Finastra to help further expand the movement globally and to introduce computer science to a wider audience, encouraging more girls and under-represented minorities to get involved.

Speaking on the initiative, Serge Tohme, Managing Director, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Finastra said, “Through the Hour of Code initiative, we want to introduce innovation in the old silos of education systems, demonstrate the power of coding and show the younger generations new career avenues. The initiative is a great way to reach young people from all backgrounds, to make them more aware of the potential of computer science, open their eyes to new career opportunities and spark their interest in learning more.”

Candice Combrinck, Head of Primary, Dubai International Academy Al Barsha said, “It’s the second year that our children have taken part in the Hour of Code initiative and it’s been as big a success as the first. The program is helping raise our students’ aspirations and shown them what opportunities there are for coders. We believe it is very important to forge links between schools and the workplace even for young pupils so that they are encouraged to link their educational experiences with the real world.”

Finastra is supporting schools and youth centers in the communities in the Middle East and Africa. The company has ambitious plans for the Hour of Code initiative around the world, with programming planned in the wider region in countries such as Lebanon, Pakistan, Kenya and South Africa. Since launching the CSR program, close to 9,000 children globally have benefited from Finastra’s Hour of Code initiative