During European Code Week, which took place October 2019, Personal Participation Foundation (PPF) took part in our Meet and Code initiative for the first time. This long-awaited event will support children who are hard of hearing learn programming and help them work toward good profession.
PPF was established in Samara (Russia) in 2013 providing assistance to children in need. This non-profit runs projects to help children who are in long-term treatment facilities, children with disabilities and those in disadvantaged families.
PPF brings people together who aspire to actively participate in people who are facing difficult issues. We make sure that PPCF not only helps people in need, but also brings pleasure to those who are engaged through our projects and programs.
In 2018, PPCF participants launched The City of Masters project, which lets children with disabilities, low-income families and those without engaged guardians at home try working in a profession of their interest. Last year these children worked as chefs, hairdressers, florists and this year they work to become IT masters!
In 2018, we did not manage to find partners for participation in Meet and Code. No company was able to partner with us, but we kept our heads up and now we are collaborating with Cosmicum specialists who share our values and are ready to support our initiative. They really got excited about the idea!
Flexible Workshop, Individual ApproachCoding specialists conduct a flexible workshop for children at boarding schools who are hard of hearing. Under these specialists’ tactful guidance, children with hearing impairments worked initially with basic coding tasks: to generate a password storage in PHP and JavaScript and to learn the basics of HTML. The participants then got ready-made software modules, which can be used as a basis for generating their own cloud password storage service. Additionally, coding specialists were encouraged to share their experiences in the field and provide some guidance into what it takes to become an IT professional.
I believe that such activities are very important to Dnipro community because most of the knowledge that is given here cannot be obtained simply by attending school.
As communication with children who are hard of hearing requires special teaching techniques, a part of the program was presented with sign language interpretation along with cards and interactive materials for visualization.
For several years, we have been looking for a such an innovative program to take part in, and we are now lucky enough to participate in Meet and Code. It is also important for us to reach new levels with these students. As the head of the foundation, I find it very important to understand what skills our children learn and develop, and ensuring they understand the full potential of the industry. For children who are hard of hearing, choices of professions are limited and participation in Meet and Code initiative is a chance to get an interesting and demanded specialty not limited to the labor exchange options
We are grateful to our partners The Teplitsa of Social Technologies that for the third time supports participants of the Meet and Code initiative in Russia and is always happy to welcome new non-profits.
