inABLE.org has added a Coding for Interns program developed to equip high school and college graduates with coding and advanced computing skills using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These interns are graduates of the inABLE Computer-Labs-for-the-Blind Program.

The Coding for Interns program was established in August 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic disruption to allow high school graduates to learn coding and advanced computing skills. We believe this will help them create self-employment for many and expand their employment opportunities.

One year later, inABLE has seen 17 interns join the program, the first cohort of 10 in 2020 and a cohort of seven in 2021. They were made up of 12 female and five male interns. Among the seven continuing Interns, two are college graduates specializing in special education, and five are form four graduates. Still, out of the seven cohort of 2021, three are blind, and four are low-vision. 

Eight graduates from last year joined colleges and universities; the remaining two continue to perfect their coding skills this year.

Below are testimonies from ongoing interns and 2020 graduates:

Peter Buoga: Peter is a Coding for Interns alum class of 2020. He is now studying ICT at SIKRI Technical Institution in Homabay County – a change from Social Studies, which is what he initially opted for. His reason for altering his career path is that he developed a new passion for ICT through the Coding for Interns program. In addition, being partially blind, he now feels confident that the ICT knowledge he acquired will take him further in the future

Collins Maikuva: Collins is a 2020 Coding for Interns alumnus. He is now a first-year student at Kenyatta University studying Architecture. He reveals that the coding training gave him a good foundation for his course. For example, as a visually impaired student, he is now aware of the accessible technology available to him and is using that knowledge to complete his school assignments. During his free time, he continues to work on developing an accessible website that will be used to share and document a lot of accessibility information, among other educational content.

Rebecca Waithera: Rebecca is an ongoing intern with low vision. She asserts, “I am lucky to have been selected for a one-year internship program by inABLE after graduating high school in March 2021. I would have completed school last year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the school calendar was significantly altered, and we were forced to go home for months. I am glad I now have a rare opportunity to interact with different computer gadgets, including desktops, iPads, chrome books, and smartphones. The knowledge and experience I’m gaining here will go a long way to make me fully independent and useful in society.”

Atanas Muli came in as a Coding for Intern student and quickly learned the ropes. “I can expand my wings and explore more opportunities. I help in managing the lab and students and also learn to code. I am learning a lot about the benefits of teamwork. This will help me to work somewhere else after my internship. I will be self-driven and won’t require much supervision after this.”

Nehemiah Kipkorir, another ongoing intern, adds, “When I came here, I didn’t know anything about computers, but now I can use it alone and do coding. In addition, I have learned about the maintenance of computers and how to clean them. I have also learned about teamwork and how to train younger students.”

Guest Contributors: inABLE Computer Instructors- Carol Ngodi, Douglas Omweba, and Shadrack Otieno

Edited by Esther Njeri Mwangi, inABLE Public Relations Officer