The CodeBy Foundation empowers young people through creative digital education that blends imagination, teamwork, and real-world application. Working with teens aged 14–19, the organisation specialises in small, high-engagement workshops that make STEM approachable — especially for those who lack opportunities for hands-on learning at school.
With Meet and Code support, CodeBy delivered a storytelling-based coding challenge inspired by a “Galactic Empire” narrative co-created with youth. The format turned abstract concepts like Boolean algebra and algorithms into missions, puzzles, and team challenges — offering teens a playful, low-pressure way to explore logic and programming.
For many participants, this was the first time complex theory felt practical and meaningful. Several linked workshop content to school subjects such as mathematics and computer science — but with a clarity and enthusiasm they rarely felt in traditional classrooms.
As project lead Łukasz Detmer explains:
At school we learn in a very textbook-based way (...). What we try to do instead is show the practical side of technology — real examples, real challenges, not just reading from a textbook. It becomes engaging and exciting.
Engagement was strong, with many teens attracted by the narrative format and the opportunity to collaborate in small teams. The workshop drew both returning participants and newcomers — several of whom later joined additional CodeBy events, showing the programme’s ability to build lasting interest and community.
Łukasz notes how important a sense of excitement is when working with teens:
It isn’t easy to engage teenagers (...). It has to be a bit of a show, something exciting — so we introduced a storyline. The teens said it was fun and really cool.
One of the most meaningful impacts emerged through an unexpected channel: scholarships. Meet and Code certificates count toward a local scholarship scheme, helping teens access essential resources.
Łukasz shared how transformative this can be:
It isn’t easy to engage teenagers (...). It has to be a bit of a show, something exciting — so we introduced a storyline. The teens said it was fun and really cool.
Beyond technical skills, the workshop created a safe, encouraging environment where young people could socialize, collaborate, and gain confidence — not only in STEM, but in themselves.
