The Mayor’s Office on African Affairs (MOAA) is proud to launch EKO | African Diaspora 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-ever program of its kind for the African community, EKO | African Diaspora Coding Academy will extend free, basic, and advanced coding training to over 120 African residents in web and mobile applications.
Beginning this week, EKO will offer two web and two mobile development training sessions. Each training session lasts five (5) weeks and classes will be held on Saturdays, from 9:00am -12:00pm. The content of First Round and Second Round classes is the same but classes are being offered at alternative times to accommodate applicants.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able 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.
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.
To learn more about EKO eligibility requirements and class schedule click here.
