Meet and Code is an initiative aimed at promoting digital literacy among young people. It brings together partners, educational institutions, and local communities to organize free programming, technology literacy, and STEM education events.
SAP has been supporting the initiative globally since 2017, and in Ukraine since 2018. This year, 158 applications were received and 71 events were selected. The program is implemented in Ukraine by the GURT Resource Center.
Results of Meet and Code 2023
Meet and Code 2023 is over, and there are first results. First, it is the number of young people involved, namely 3730 participants, of whom almost half (49%) are girls. Such a large number was reached due to the fact that some of the events were held online or in a hybrid format (15 online events, 15 hybrid events). Secondly, under the war conditions, civil society organizations (CSOs) were able to organize most of the events offline (41 events), in compliance with safety rules and the availability of shelters during air raid alerts.
Alla Zhuravel, deputy director of the GURT Resource Center, said this:
“This format is particularly important for developing teamwork and collaborative problem-solving skills.”
Meet and Code events help children and young people learn digital skills, creating a favorable environment for their personal and professional growth. The initiative aims to promote the integration of young people into modern society and train a new generation of technology professionals. SAP believes in the importance of developing IT skills, as it not only empowers young people but also contributes to the digital development of society.
SAP believes that access to digital skills is an important prerequisite for a successful future career. Anna Mikulytska, Managing Director of SAP Ukraine, emphasizes:
“Through this initiative, we are helping to create opportunities for young people to develop their potential in the world of technology.”
A variety of topics
This year, the diversity of topics offered at Meet and Code events was characterized by a wide range of topics. From the classic and always relevant ones – robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity – to designing work on a laser machine, developing security systems, technological reconstruction of the city, controlling and programming quadcopters and drones, and mine safety.
“GURT receives warm words of gratitude from the event organizers, including NGOs and foundations, educational institutions, and individual teacher leaders, for implementing the Meet and Code initiative in Ukraine and for financially supporting new opportunities for children and youth,” adds Alla Zhuravel.
In its turn, GURT expresses its sincere gratitude to the initiative’s financial partners: SAP and the Amazon Future Engineer educational program for their contribution to the development of young Ukrainians’ digital skills.
Feedback from participants
Makar Naybych, 12, participant of the VEX RoboWeek STEM course; technological reconstruction of the city by the NGO Association Noosphere:
“I dream of creating robots that will replace rescuers and save lives not only of the injured, but also of people who die helping others.”
Anna Panasyuk, 6th grade student, participant of the event Arduino Robotics: Creating Everyday Robots by Chernihiv European NGO:
“This was my first time attending such a training, and I am very glad that I succeeded. I understood how to assemble a robot: I managed to assemble and launch my robot myself!”
Since 2017, more than 8,000 Meet and Code events have taken place in 35 countries with the support of SAP, reaching more than 250,000 young people. SAP plans to further develop initiatives aimed at supporting the education and development of children and youth.
