A course that opens the door to the future

Imagine this: 10 teenagers, 10 immersions in different IT areas, lots of dreams and even more inspiration! This is exactly what our first IT career guidance course, organized together with @comparusua_team and @itschoolsmart, was like.

The 13-17-year-old participants from Dnipro underwent intensive training, during which they learned how Python programming works, what opportunities artificial intelligence opens up, how to create graphic design, develop interfaces for applications (UI/UX), and even work with 3D modeling and website development.

We were particularly inspired by the story of Nadia from Kherson Oblast, who has dreamed of becoming a programmer since she was six years old, just like her godfather. She came to the course to learn more about this world, and already at the first lesson she showed real enthusiasm and desire to learn.

Each lesson included practice: the children created mini-projects, immersing themselves in the real tasks of different professions. And at the end of the course, the teachers held career counseling sessions, helping everyone decide on a direction for further development.

Why is it important?
IT is an industry that remains stable even in times of crisis. “This knowledge can become a good foundation and a promising future for our youth,” says Maryna Sheheda, marketing director of SMART IT school.

Kateryna Barbashyna, Partnerships Manager at Rise of Ukraine, spoke about the way to implement this course:

“We have been dreaming of such a course for a long time, because we realized that not everyone has such an opportunity. We started this journey by finding funding from a German organization for high-quality computers, and then started looking for partners who could provide training. And now, our dream has come true.”

The Comparus UA team played a special role in the course implementation. Lika Ladan, a course instructor and designer at Comparus UA, shared her impressions:

“I really wanted not only to show what IT is and what areas it covers, but also to convey my interest in this field. I personally really like working in IT, and I dreamed that children would see these areas through my eyes.”

What did the participants receive?
At the end of the course, each graduate received a certificate, career counseling from SMART IT School, and nice gifts from Comparus. And most importantly, the inspiration to develop further.

This was our pilot project, but we already know that this is not the last course. Inspired by the feedback from participants and parents, we are confident that such programs help the younger generation find their place in the world, believe in themselves, and discover their talents.

Let’s open new horizons together with Rise! 💙💛