PH students join coding event

Grade 4 students learn how to code Star Wars, Minecraft games

Accenture employees in the Philippines participated in the recent Hour of Code event by showing some 80 Grade 4 students of the PAREF Southridge School how to code the Star Wars and Minecraft games.

Ambe Tierro, technology lead for Accenture in the Philippines, led the educational event in the country, which was held to teach students the basics of coding.

“The kids were all very receptive and excited to learn how easy coding is. Together with my whole team, we are grateful to be given this opportunity to help bring computer science and coding concepts closer to these kids, who will one day lead the information technology industry with their own ideas that can change the way the world works and lives,” Tierro said in a statement.

Aside from PAREF Southridge School, almost 300 other schools, organizations, and companies across the Philippines also held an Hour of Code event in their respective locations.

Accenture teamed up with Code.org to support global participation in Hour of Code, with employees volunteering to work with teachers to help students learn the basics of computer science at local schools and events through fun, game-like online lessons.

Thousands of Accenture employees around the world pledged to complete nearly 8,000 Hours of Code during Computer Science Education Week last December 7-13.

Organized by Code.org, the Hour of Code culminated with a massive coding event on December 7-13, with 191,000 registered events. The goal of the grassroots movement is to empower every student in every school with the opportunity to learn computer science.

“We are aligned with Code.org’s mission and vision that exposure to coding is important to the success of every student, regardless of what field they choose to pursue,” said Paul Daugherty, Accenture’s chief technology officer, in the same statement.

“Armed with coding skills they develop throughout their academic careers, students will be much better prepared to fill key roles in the digital businesses of the future. I am continually impressed with the passion and energy that our

Accenture people are showing in their commitment to this important cause,” he added.

Roxanne Taylor, Accenture’s chief marketing and communications officer, said the need for people with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills has never been greater.

“By 2020, there will be 1.2 million jobs requiring computer-related skills in the US alone. Yet the pipeline of graduates with technology skills is lacking, especially among women. Code.org is helping to reverse this trend by addressing the issue early in the education cycle,” she said.

Hadi Partovi, CEO and co-founder of Code.org, said Accenture’s support has “addressed and continued to address some of the biggest issues faced by the technology industry, helping make it more diverse, inclusive and available to all people.”