A new programming initiative called Canada Learning Code plans to provide 10 million technology education experiences over the next ten years.
Aiming to be the Canadian equivalent of Code.org, which featured famous supporters such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the project was launched by the team at Ladies Learning Code, with support from major Canadian tech figures like Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke and venture capitalist Boris Wertz.
Other big name partners putting weight behind the project are international corporations Microsoft, Google and Boeing, and coding education organizations hackerYou, Kidscode Jeunesse and CoderDojo.
To fulfill its aim of reaching 10 million Canadians, Canada Learning Code states on its website that it will design and deliver programming, create strategic industry and public partnerships, train educators, complete research and advocate for the cause.
One key element of the project will be unifying the various initiatives that have cropped across Canada.
“There are a lot of people trying to tackle coding … [but] no cohesion” said Ladies Learning Code CEO Melissa Sarriffodeen in an interview with The Globe and Mail.
The organization is now applying for charitable status, and hoping to raise $50 million CAD to complete its goals. Currently, it has raised one-quarter of its $2 million goal for 2017.
Related: Meet the toy that turns your kid’s tablet into a hands-on learning experience
[source]Canada Learning Code[/source][via]The Globe and Mail[/via]
