02 May 2024

Funded and supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Tangible Africa has found a way to equip children with coding skills through innovative gaming platforms.

Since its inception, the organisation has impacted thousands of children and teachers alike across countries like Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and even Ireland.

Tangible Africa’s flagship initiative, the RANGERS smartphone app, gamifies coding education, making it accessible even in regions lacking computers, internet access, or electricity. The app operates offline, allowing learners from underserved communities to learn coding fundamentals all while having fun. RANGERS leverages Android, the predominant mobile operating system in Africa, to deliver coding education to thousands of students.

In a 2023 World Bank report, only 50% of countries in Africa have computer skills as part of their school curriculum, compared to 85% of countries globally.

“While many children in Africa are growing into a tech-driven future through initiatives like Tangible Africa, the impact should extend to teachers as well. After all, these are the heroes responsible for sparking to life a passion for tech at a grassroots level,” said Professor Greyling.

Although more countries are adopting a coding curriculum, according to Greyling, it is not enough for the millions of adults already out of school – especially the educators responsible for sharing this new knowledge with learners.

“If teachers lack the necessary knowledge to teach effectively, then how can we ever succeed? Through gamified tech learning platforms, we’re not only helping them inspire their students, but we must remember that we’re also unlocking a world of technology for teachers to explore in their own journeys to success,” said Greyling.

“We’re so proud to be associated with initiatives like Tangible Africa. This is so much more than just a funding, it is about driving a shared mission elevate the continent by opening the door to a future driven and dominated by digital growth,” said education equity lead at AWS, Aanya Niaz. “Our aim is always to improve the livelihoods of local communities and use the power of the cloud to propel them into a digital future. Through this, we partner with nonprofits and community organisations like Tangible Africa, and use our resources, people, and passion for innovation to make a sustainable and lasting impact.”