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The camp was a unique chance for girls from varied backgrounds to get to know each other, form friendships, and work together as teams. Over half of the participants were out-of-school, one-third were orphaned, and the group of participants from MCMZ included girls removed from early marriages. But regardless of where they came from, all of the girls (and the 10 accompanying Lubuto staff members!) enthusiastically committed to learning as much as they could over the course of the week, working late into the evenings as they prepared skits that demonstrated their newfound understanding of computer logic. During the days, girls participated in rotating small-group technology sessions where they learned to program in Scratch and Python, understand computer architecture by assembling computers, build and program robotic vehicles, and learn circuitry and electronics using Snapcircuits, Arduino microcontrollers and Raspberry Pi single board computers. Campers and staff also had the adventure of sleeping in the Reading Room of the Mumuni Library, with tasty and nutritious meals prepared each day by members of the Library Committee. Girls expressed newfound confidence in their ability to use technology in creative contexts, establishing themselves as technology leaders in their communities and expanding their sense of what is possible for their futures. We see this as the first step towards developing a programming model for high-level technology instruction in Lubuto Libraries, reaching youth with high-demand skills that promote creative problem-solving, spur critical thinking, and open doors to new career opportunities.
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