400 kids will get free IT training in Burgas this summer

The city hopes to help turn a new generation from tech consumers into tech producers

Last week the city of Burgas (Bulgaria) announced that it will offer free summer courses in programming for kids. “Coding for Kids Burgas” will welcome 400 youngsters between the ages of 6 and 12 and allow them to dip their toes into the world of IT.

The application process is now open and will remain so until all spaces are filled up, while the courses themselves are set to start on 3 July. The trainings will be led by students from the local Vocational School for Computer Programming and Innovation, under mentor supervision.  

According to an official statement by the city, the aim of the programme is to turn a new generation of young people from tech consumers into tech producers.

The city will hand out certificates

The summer IT courses in Burgas will last for four weeks, every day from Monday to Friday, ending with a certificate of completion.

Beginners will train on a platform called Scratch – an educational tool where participants will have to make their own game. Intermediaries will work with both Scratch and LEGO MINDSTORM – an educational application where kids will have to programme robots. Finally, at the ‘expert level’ participants will start learning the basics of coding on JavaScript.

The participants will be split into three age groups: 6 to 8 years, 9 to 10 and 11 to 12 with up to twelve participants per group - to ensure everyone gets enough attention.

A continuous effort

According to the city, this is the third free IT course on offer and around 700 kids have already gained a certificate for taking their first steps in coding. Mayor Dimitar Nikolov was quoted in a press statement, explaining that with the programme, local authorities hope to spark interest in tech among young people.

Furthermore, Coding for Kids Burgas aims to offer as many children as possible access to training in the field of programming.

Nikolov continued by pointing out that since its start two years ago, the initiative has garnered much interest from the public, which is a strong incentive for the city to continue with it in the future.