How I Helped Students Win an International Tech Competition

The Do your bit: 2019 winners for the African region

A few days ago, while scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled on the Micro:bit Educational Foundation’s handle. Instantly, I was taken back to 2019; a fulfilling moment, reminiscing, I realized this story was worth sharing.

It all started when I volunteered for the Teens Can Code initiative to teach children aged 8 to 15 in primary and secondary schools. The training was part of the annual international "Do Your Bit:" competition, sponsored by the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, a subsidiary of Microsoft. The competition focused on SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), challenging young participants to develop solutions using Micro:bit programs.

We had a training where I learned Micro:bit programming and prepared to teach the students. As at that time I didn't own a laptop, so I borrowed one to learn with and prepare my slides. I visited two schools in Port Harcourt: Holy Child International Schools and Victory International School, both in Rumuelumini, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The students were really engaged in the lessons. After the training sessions, I split them into teams of three in each school. Their task was to brainstorm and build Micro:bit-based solutions for either SDG 14 or SDG 15. Seeing their creativity shine was truly inspiring, as each team proposed mind-blowing solutions.

I captured some of these beautiful moments during the training at Holy Child International School and shared a post on Instagram in March 2019. ***Check it out here!***

As the submission day approached, one final hurdle was getting parents to sign off on the project submissions, this was a crucial requirement. It wasn't easy convincing them to leave their busy schedules, but we pulled it off.

The effort paid off in a way I never imagined. I vividly remember the day I received an email from the Micro:bit Educational Foundation. One of my teams, made up of Success, Chris-Jacob, and Sharon had been selected as the African winners of the international competition. It was a testament to the students' hard work and creativity. ***You can check out the official announcement here***

Traditionally, the Micro:bit Educational Foundation hosts winning ceremonies in London to honor the victors. However, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the event was canceled. Despite this setback, the foundation ensured that the winners received their prizes, including brand-new laptops, Micro:bits, T-shirts, and other goodies. In Nigeria, a special ceremony was organized to celebrate the winning team’s remarkable achievement.

A screenshot of the mail I got from the Micro:bit team

Looking back, this experience taught me that sometimes all young minds need, is a little guidance and belief in their potential. I was just a volunteer with a borrowed laptop, but together we achieved something remarkable.

To this day, the joy on the students' faces and the lessons we all learned remain unforgettable. Sometimes, a simple act of volunteering can spark a journey that reaches beyond borders. You too can volunteer to make impacts, just start from somewhere.