Bringing coding to schools
25 April 2025
Amid the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, Code Brave has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability to continue its mission of enhancing tech education for disadvantaged children. The project, which aims to support two schools by training and coaching teachers to deliver Coding, Robotics, and AI classes to 240 children aged 11-14 (grades 5 to 8), faced significant hurdles due to the war.
The conflict escalated in September 2024, leading to the closure of schools and their repurposing as shelters for displaced people. This included the two schools identified for the project, forcing Code Brave to rethink its approach. In response to these challenges, Code Brave implemented several key adaptations. Code Brave switched to online training for Teaching Fellows, ensuring they could continue their education from any location. Laptops were delivered directly to the teachers to facilitate this remote learning. Recognizing the urgent needs of children sheltering in public schools turned shelters, Code Brave introduced emergency education classes. These classes, designed to help children suffering from toxic stress, provided a much-needed distraction while continuing their education.
Despite the challenges, in the past six months, the project has achieved significant milestones. Code Brave's Tech Education curriculum was updated to better serve the needs of the students. By January, four Teaching Fellows were recruited, trained online and had completed their training. Code Brave delivered 36.5 hours of emergency education classes to 78 students in shelters and provided direct teaching to 257 students in grades 5-8 across both partner schools.
With the ceasefire and the establishment of a new government, Lebanon has seen a return to relative calm. The school year started in January, and the partner schools are keen to continue with the Code-Powered School project as originally planned. This project stands as a testament to the power of adaptability and dedication in the face of adversity, ensuring that education continues to thrive even in the most challenging circumstances.
