DC MOAA Launches EKO – African Diaspora Coding Academy

EKO – African Diaspora Coding Academy

The Mayor’s Office on African Affairs (MOAA) is proud to launch EKO | AfricanDiaspora Coding Academy. Directly connected to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s vision of supporting innovative ideas that expand economic opportunities, EKO | African Diaspora Coding Academy is a program developed in partnership with Coders4Africa (C4A), the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), and DCHR’s Center for Learning and Development to provide greater access to free coding classes, software design and application development to the growing African-born population in the District.

EKO reinforces Mayor Bowser’s commitment to focus on high-growth industries such as technology to stimulate job creation and prepare District constituents with long-term competitive skills that will place underserved community members on ‘Pathways to the Middle Class’. As the first of its kind program for the African community, EKO | African Diaspora Coding Academy will extend extent free, basic and advanced coding training to over 120 African residents in web and mobile applications, including women and girls.

Starting this week, EKO will offer two web and two mobile development training sessions, classes will be held once a week for five (5) weeks (Saturday, from 9am -12).

After completion of the program, students will be expected to:

1. Learn to create websites and mobile applications that will impacts businesses and organizations;

2. Demonstrate knowledge of key principles and technologies in basic website design, such as the purpose and application of HTML and CSS;

3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of current development in web design and web standards;

4. Demonstrate the ability to develop and implement a simple mobile APP on Android;

5. Demonstrate knowledge of key principles and technologies in basic Android APP development;

6. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of current development in mobile standard.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to participate in EKO | African Diaspora Coding Academy, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a District Resident
• Must be unemployed or underemployed (working less than 32 hours per week)
• 18- years or older
• Basic computer skills (No prior coding experience necessary)

Schedule of classes:

November 2015 – 1st Web Development
January 2016 – 1st Mobile Application Development
February 2016 – 2nd Web Developments
April – 2nd Mobile Application Development

How to Apply: click here to apply (Application process is ongoing )

For additional information about EKO | African Diaspora Coding Academy, contact the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs at (202) 727-5634 or via email at oaa@dc.gov or contact Coders4Africa at www.coders4africa.com