Micro-interview with Code Club educator Ashwani Tiwari

In our new micro-interview blog series, we chat to educators and young coding enthusiasts about their Code Club experience. Enjoy!

Ashwani Tiwari runs “Maker Lab”, a network of Code Clubs in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. 

Maker Lab was established in 2022 and partners with government schools in remote tribal areas to create maker labs for coding and tinkering. This network of clubs meets twice a week for one hour, with 1600 students (1200 girls and 400 boys) participating across 12 schools. 

What inspired you to start a Code Club network across Rajasthan?

I see Code Club as an opportunity to empower young girls who have limited access to technology and are at risk of being forced into early marriage. Code Club enables girls to co-create an excellent career path after schooling.

Can you give me an example of how girls are benefiting from being in your Code Club?

Yes! Harshita, an 11th grader, crafted an automatic river cleaning boat using a text-based coding language, Scratch, and a Raspberry Pi. She showcases how creativity and technology can come together to solve real-world challenges.

Her innovation earned her local acclaim, and secured her seed funding and a pivotal delay in her marriage. Enrolled as the first girl in her village to study science, she symbolises empowerment and the transformative power of education.

In what other ways does participating in a Code Club benefit young people’s future opportunities?

Coding isn’t just about opportunities; it’s a vehicle for empowering young people with problem-solving skills, computational thinking, and entrepreneurial talents. It opens multiple pathways, nurturing creativity and adaptability, preparing them for success in a rapidly evolving digital world, and using technology to change how we learn. 

Why do young people in Rajasthan find Code Club appealing? 

Young people’s attraction to adventure often sparks their interest in coding, as they see it as a tool to solve challenges and pursue careers in aspirational fields like STEM.

Code Club networks offer a sense of belonging and recognition for young coders. Members feel a unique identity and a deeper connection to the coding community. Achieving milestones, like 100 hours of coding experience and the opportunity to mentor others, instils a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Also, coding becomes a problem-solving tool, bridging the gap between ideas and reality, and empowering them to shape the world around them and fulfil their ambitions.

You mentioned learners in your area particularly enjoy solving real-world problems. What types of coding projects are they using to do this?

One example is Manisha, a 15-year-old 10th grader from a remote tribal community, who ingeniously crafted a remote-controlled automatic fertiliser spray machine to aid her father’s farm work in scorching sunlight.

Her innovation has not only eased her father’s workload but has also benefited numerous farmers, inspiring plans for further product development to enhance agricultural efficiency in their community. 

To accomplish this mission, Manisha learnt Scratch, a block-based programming language, and its application with a Raspberry Pi to control the hardware with Virtual Network Computing (VNC). She is also starting on her path to learn the Internet of Things (IoT) to further this project.

What is your vision for the future of Code Clubs in Rajasthan?

This network of Code Clubs embodies a movement for systemic change in STEM education, especially in Rajasthan’s educationally disadvantaged districts. It democratises computing and STEM learning, ensuring equitable access for all. Empowering the next generation with essential digital skills will promote a more inclusive and promising future for all learners.

Thank you, Ashwani!

If you enjoyed this micro-interview, read our micro-interview with Sue and learn about her experiences of using the Code Club resources and projects in her club in the UK

Our Code Clubs are empowering young learners and transforming communities with the help of dedicated volunteers. Are you interested in making a difference and launching your own Code Club in India? Reach out to [email protected]