Cameroon's Kids Coding Revolution: Four-Year-Olds Master AI and Robotics
In Yaounde, Cameroon, children as young as four are learning coding, robotics, and AI at innovative centres like the Kitadis Centre and BLIS Global Center. These programs, costing between FCFA 10,000 (USD 17) and FCFA 100,000 (USD 167) annually, are fostering digital literacy and shaping young minds for the tech revolution.
At the Kitadis Centre in Ngoa-Ekelle, children aged four to thirteen are taught to use technology creatively. A four-year-old recently wowed attendees at a five-week AI boot camp with an interactive game that helps users choose healthy meals based on age, health, and gender. This game won the 'Demo Day' presentation event, showcasing the centre's success in nurturing young tech talent.
The BLIS Global Center in Yaounde also offers hands-on tech skills to children as young as six. Here, they learn robotics and 3D printing. The program costs FCFA 10,000 (USD 17) for registration and FCFA 20,000 (USD 33) for tuition, with follow-up tech clubs in schools. Both centres welcome children from diverse backgrounds, including orphans, ensuring no child is left behind in the tech revolution.
Cameroon's National Pedagogic Inspector for computer sciences supports these early tech education initiatives. They believe such programs shape career paths and build tech confidence. With parents enrolling their children in these programs during summer holidays, the shift towards digital literacy is gaining momentum. These centres are not only teaching children valuable tech skills but also fostering a tech-savvy generation ready to face the future.
