Hello there, I’m Aaryan Singhal!
I think we can unanimously agree that we are living in strange times; never had we thought that an invisible enemy had the ability to bring the world we live to a screeching halt. Unfortunately, we were wrong. The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed our normal ways of life.
Over the course of the past few months, I have noticed a particular consequence of the global pandemic that has not received much attention: the decrease in children’s learning. Now that school is over in most countries, children have nothing to do at home. Instead of exploring their interests and broadening their horizons through the non-scholastic activities that most participate in during this time of the year, most young people are confined to the few things they can do indoors. Recognizing this problem, I decided to come up with a solution. I have decided to launch a campaign, Coding For COVID-19, to teach young children in my community and beyond how to program.
Through textbooks and online courses, I have acquired several programming skills over the past few years. By starting this social initiative during these times of difficulty, I hope to make use of my skills to help solve a problem I have identified in my community. Via Coding For COVID-19, I will be offering bi-weekly virtual programming classes to elementary and middle school students.
It is a well-known fact that programming has become an indispensable tool in today’s modern era. However, the field of computer science is so vast and complex that it is often difficult to find the right place to start (an issue I faced myself when I began). Through my programming classes, I will be closely guiding students through an introduction to the massive world of computer science. After many hours of research, I have chosen to use CodeCombat as the foundation of all my coding classes.
It is a well-known fact that programming has become an indispensable tool in today’s modern era. However, the field of computer science is so vast and complex that it is often difficult to find the right place to start (an issue I faced myself when I began). Through my programming classes, I will be closely guiding students through an introduction to the massive world of computer science. After many hours of research, I have chosen to use CodeCombat as the foundation of all my coding classes.
Through CodeCombat, students will get access to an entertaining, interactive, and immersive online platform where they will be able to directly make use of and apply what they learn in class. During the course of Coding For COVID-19, Children will be introduced to several different aspects of the world of computer science through a series of courses (Computer Science Fundamentals, Game Development, and Web Development), each meant to develop a strong foundation in a specific area of programming.
Through these classes, the goals I hope to achieve are (1) to show children the beauty of computer science and (2) to establish a solid starting point from which children can independently take a deep dive into whatever aspect of computer science appeals to them the most.
I would also like to bring to the community’s attention the many privileges we have during this global pandemic: we have food to eat, clean water to drink, face masks to wear, and a roof over our heads. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, people do not enjoy the same privileges - and COVID-19 has only made things worse. Being from a country where this issue is highly prevalent, I can empathize with the suffering millions of people are facing at this very moment - I hope to do whatever I can to help.
Therefore, I have established a fundraising campaign to raise $15 per student-hour generated through my programming classes; I pledge to donate 100% of the money collected to support a COVID-19 initiative to bring essentials, such as food rations and hygiene materials, to underprivileged people in my home state of Uttarakhand, India.
In times like this, the human race overcomes difficulty by working together and showing compassion; it is this simple idea that has fueled human greatness for centuries. Now, more than ever before, we need to support those that are in need - it is this conviction that inspired me to establish Coding For COVID-19. I truly believe that, if we are able to raise between $7,000 to $10,000 through this campaign, thousands of lives will be affected.
Through these classes, the goals I hope to achieve are (1) to show children the beauty of computer science and (2) to establish a solid starting point from which children can independently take a deep dive into whatever aspect of computer science appeals to them the most.
I would also like to bring to the community’s attention the many privileges we have during this global pandemic: we have food to eat, clean water to drink, face masks to wear, and a roof over our heads. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, people do not enjoy the same privileges - and COVID-19 has only made things worse. Being from a country where this issue is highly prevalent, I can empathize with the suffering millions of people are facing at this very moment - I hope to do whatever I can to help.
Therefore, I have established a fundraising campaign to raise $15 per student-hour generated through my programming classes; I pledge to donate 100% of the money collected to support a COVID-19 initiative to bring essentials, such as food rations and hygiene materials, to underprivileged people in my home state of Uttarakhand, India.
In times like this, the human race overcomes difficulty by working together and showing compassion; it is this simple idea that has fueled human greatness for centuries. Now, more than ever before, we need to support those that are in need - it is this conviction that inspired me to establish Coding For COVID-19. I truly believe that, if we are able to raise between $7,000 to $10,000 through this campaign, thousands of lives will be affected.
All your contributions will bring happiness and hope to people in need. Your consideration and support are much appreciated - without it, this initiative would not be possible!