Hour of Code event held on December 11, by Microsoft Albania

Microsoft Albania held on December 11 the “Hour of Code” event, in collaboration with Code.org, at the headquarters of Protik Innovation Center. The “Hour of Code” was organized in the framework of the Computer Science Education Week, held annually on December 8-12 worldwide.

The event was attended by successful young pupils who are making their first steps toward coding, by getting involved in many projects, competitions, trainings sessions and courses that Microsoft Albania offers for free.

The activity was focused on the presentation of youngsters’ projects in the IT field. One of them was Kelvin Cobanaj, a 16 years old boy that started learning how to code when he was 9 years old by becoming member in an online community. Since then, Kelvin has continued his passion in coding and experimenting with many programs and platforms, has won scholarships and participated in competitions. Now, the 16 years old boy is running a startup in San Francisco in collaboration with an American peer.

The second presentation had in focus a twelve old year boy which has created an online game, similar to Flappy Bird, with tools and online options offered by Microsoft Albania.

With the motto “Everyone starts somewhere” students from Gjergj Canco and Emin Duraku high schools were involved in an intensive training session by Microsoft Albania experts, in order to learn how to code and how to be a programmer. Through Microsoft YouthSpark program, Microsoft Albania helps Albanian youngsters to be no only users of the newest technologies but to create their own technological products.

Present in the event was also the councilor of Minister of Innovation, which presented the newest initiatives taken by this institution in order to give a more close approach to coding for elementary pupils and high school students by organizing tech hours where pupils use tablets during their lessons hours.