Bangkok –
3
June
2014 – Microsoft (Thailand) Limited, together with the National Council for Child and Youth Development (NCYD), recently hosted the ‘We Speak Code’ activity as part of a regional drive to empower millions of people across the Asia-Pacific region with the universal language of code.
Microsoft’s region-wide “Hour of Code” campaign, inspired by Code.org, was conceived to empower students across the Asia-Pacific region to develop coding skills through creative, intuitive exercises that lay down the foundations for a valuable 21st-century skill.
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Siriporn Pajharawat, Developer & Platform Strategy Director, said “The ‘We Speak Code’ activity represents the first step for young people into the world of coding. Through our YouthSpark program, Microsoft is challenging youths in Thailand and various Asia-Pacific countries to do an hour of code and help make code the second language of Asia Pacific. We have developed free and fun ways for people of all ages to learn how to code without requiring any background in programming.”
The “Hour of Code” campaign, with the catch phrase “We Speak Code”, aims to give millions of people from all over the region a taste of what coding is, demonstrate how accessible learning coding can be, and create interest in expanded programming and computer science courses and activities in schools.
“We want to make sure people understand computer science and basic programming as those skills are the foundation for many jobs today, and those that will be created in the future.” Siriporn added “We hope to channel the energy of youth into a loud demand for more resources, education and skills training in coding which we hope will inspire the next generation to dream, create, and change the way we live and work.”
As the technology sector continues to drive economic growth in Asia, youths with ICT skills will find themselves better qualified for new employment and entrepreneurial activities. According to the study “Connecting to Work” from The World Bank, in India, for example, jobs in the ICT industry pay up to twice what service-sector jobs pay, whereas in the Philippines an entry-level tech job pays, on average, 38 percent more than minimum wage.
“’We Speak Code’ is a continuation of the Council’s partnership with Microsoft to support the development of Thai youths,” said Srisak Thaiarry, Executive Director of the National Council for Child and Youth Development. “On top of developing a significant skill for the future, ‘We Speak Code’ also represents an opportunity for us and Microsoft to spread the message on coding’s importance and value to a next-generation audience. We believe that participants of the activity will become ambassadors for the world of coding for their academic institutions and local communities, leading to the spread of coding as a key skill for people nationwide.”
“This is my first step into coding,” Yosita Chen, a youth ambassador for the Bangkok Youth Council and a student participant in ‘We Speak Code’, added. “The activity has given me an opportunity to learn a new skill that can lead to many benefits in my fields of interest. As a youth ambassador, I can turn my newfound coding abilities into media or presentational apps that effectively reach out to younger audiences and raise awareness about various social issues.”
For more information on how “We Speak Code” or how you can speak code too, please visit www.wespeakcode.net. Follow us on Twitter at #wespeakcode.
For more information, press only: Microsoft Asia Pacific Week of Code News Center: http://www.microsoft.com/apac/news/presskits/wespeakcode/
About Microsoft
YouthSpark
Program
Today’s youth face an opportunity divide – a gap between those who have access to the skills and training they need to be successful, and those who do not. With more than 75 million unemployed youth around the world, we must work together to close this divide in order to secure the future of our youth, and of our global economy.
Microsoft YouthSpark, a company-wide, global initiative to create opportunities for 300 million youth over three years. Through 30+ programs and partnerships with 186 youth-serving nonprofits, in its first year alone Microsoft YouthSpark has created new opportunities for more than 103 million young people in over 100 countries around the world. Although there is much still to do, we’re inspired by what we’ve seen: young people taking the lead in changing not only their lives but the lives of other around them, making a real impact in their local communities and on the global stage.
For further information, (press) please contact:
Thornthawat Thongnab or Wichayakorn Jarubundit
Hill+Knowlton Strategies Thailand
Tel: 0-2627-3501 ext. 106, 105 or 083-225-4567, 087-325-0410
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]