Country of Residence
United States
Age
13
Project title
Pylernen
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
PyLernen is a fun, interactive coding platform that helps beginners and young learners master Python through 20 self-paced lessons, hands-on coding, instant debugging help, quizzes, real-world projects, and certificates, making it easier for anyone to go from knowing nothing about coding to building something of their own.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
https://pylernen.org/
Project Category
My project is an existing project that I started
Project Stage
Growth (We’ve moved past the very first activities and are beginning to have consistent weekly or monthly impact)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
When I first started coding with Scratch, a platform developed by MIT, it felt like playing a game. I could drag and drop blocks and watch my ideas come to life. It was fun, simple, and made me want to learn more. But when I moved on to Python, HTML, JavaScript, and C++, things got harder. I had to understand syntax, solve errors, and figure out why my code was not working. My passion kept me going, but I began to wonder how many kids would give up at this stage, not because they lacked interest or ability, but because coding was too difficult to understand. That was my aha moment. I realized that the problem was not that kids could not learn to code. They needed a better way to learn it. I wanted to build a platform that combined the fun of Scratch with the power of real programming languages and the excitement of video games. A place where kids could learn at their own pace, get help when stuck, and feel confident enough to keep trying. That idea became PyLernen. I started PyLernen because I do not want another child to abandon their curiosity or potential just because learning to code feels too hard. I want kids to discover, as I did, that they can turn their ideas into reality when they have the right tools and support.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Growing up in Nigeria, I saw that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. I have seen people with the ability to do great things struggle because they never had access to the opportunities they needed. This made me realize that one of the biggest problems we face is not a lack of talent, but a lack of access. Today, the world is moving towards a future where digital skills are essential. Yet, in many developing countries, learning technology is expensive. Not every child has a laptop, reliable internet, or money for coding classes. This means many young people are left behind before they even get the chance to discover their potential. I believe this shortage of access to digital skills is a problem we must solve if more people are going to participate in the future of work. That is why I created PyLernen. I want to make learning to code more accessible through interactive lessons, hands on practice, debugging assistance, quizzes, and real-world projects. My goal is to help beginners build practical skills and the confidence to turn their ideas into reality. I am 13, and I believe a child's future should not be limited by where they are born or how much their family earns. I cannot solve every problem, but I can start by making coding easier to learn. With PyLernen, I want to help more young people move from being consumers of technology to creators of it.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
PyLernen is an interactive learning platform designed to take learners from knowing little or nothing about coding to building projects of their own. It offers 20 self paced courses, hands on coding exercises, an AI chatbot helper, quizzes, real world projects, and certificates. Here is how it works. Learners follow structured lessons at their own pace and practise what they learn by writing code. When they get stuck or encounter errors, the AI chatbot helper guides them towards understanding and fixing the problem. Quizzes help them test their knowledge, while practical projects challenge them to apply their skills to real problems instead of just memorizing concepts. But I believe learning should not happen alone. That is why PyLernen also has a community where learners can connect, share ideas, ask questions, help one another solve problems, and tackle projects together. Instead of being afraid of difficult challenges, they can learn to face them head on, collaborate, make mistakes, and find solutions as a team. I want PyLernen to help young people explore major programming languages, and discover what they can create with technology. I designed PyLernen around a simple idea: learning digital skills should not be a privilege reserved for children who can afford expensive training. By combining self paced lessons, practical projects, instant learning support, and a collaborative community, I want to make the journey from beginner to creator less intimidating. My goal is to help young people become problem solvers, innovators, and creators rather than just consumers of technology. I want every learner to have the tools, confidence, and support to turn their ideas into something real and prepare for the future of work.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
My journey with PyLernen started in 2023, when I began using my summer breaks to organize coding bootcamps and teach people how to code. Through these bootcamps, I learned that many people are interested in technology but need someone to break down difficult concepts and make learning easier. I wanted to take that same approach beyond physical bootcamps and reach more learners throughout the year. That is how PyLernen grew into a learning platform. Today, PyLernen has 11 users across three countries: Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We have also partnered with Liberia Tech Hub to provide access to 10 learners, creating an opportunity to extend our reach into another community. Beyond the platform, we have built a Facebook community of over 6,000 followers, where we teach coding daily. We receive messages from people appreciating how simple and easy to understand our teaching approach is. These interactions help us understand what learners need and reinforce our commitment to making coding more accessible. PyLernen give learners access to self-paced lessons, practical coding exercises, debugging assistance, and projects they can work on independently. Our community also encourages learners to share ideas, solve problems together, and take on projects rather than give up when challenges arise. Our next goal is to reach more underserved communities.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
What sets PyLernen apart is our community. We believe learning to code should not be a lonely journey or a one size fits all experience. Learners should have a place where they can ask questions, share ideas, solve problems together, and tackle projects head on instead of giving up when things get difficult. Growing up in Nigeria, I saw how limited access to technology and training could prevent talented people from developing the skills they need for the future. I wanted to create a learning platform that makes coding easier to understand and gives beginners the support they need to keep going. PyLernen offers self-paced courses, hands on coding, an AI chatbot helper, quizzes, real world projects, and certificates. Learners can move at their own pace, get help when they encounter errors, and put what they learn into practice by building projects. But we do not want learners to figure everything out alone. Our community gives them a place to connect, exchange ideas, help one another solve problems, and work on projects together. Our work also extends beyond the platform. We teach coding daily to a community of over 6,000 Facebook followers, helping more people discover programming through our simple teaching approach. I believe learning to code should be more than watching lessons and trying to figure things out on your own. Sometimes, you need someone to explain it differently. Sometimes, you need people to work with, share ideas with, and learn from. That is the kind of community I want PyLernen to build, where we do not just learn to code but help one another get better at it.
How many people are on your team?
2
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
I am Denzel Babajide, the founder of PyLernen. I handle the coding and development, turning our ideas into real features that learners can use. Olamide Ayeni is our Operating Lead. She helps with governance and operations to keep things organized and running smoothly. We work together by combining our strengths, sharing ideas, and making decisions that help PyLernen grow.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next year, I want to grow PyLernen by reaching more learners, improving how we teach coding, and creating more opportunities for young people who cannot afford expensive training. I am currently speaking with the management of my school in Takoma Park to explore how PyLernen can be used to teach the computer science coding class. This would be an important step in bringing PyLernen into a school environment, learning from students’ experiences, and improving the platform based on their feedback. We are also building a collaborative space where corporate organizations can sponsor coding training for young people who lack the resources to access it. These organizations will be able to see their impact reports online in real time, helping them understand how their support is making a difference and encouraging more organizations to invest in technology education. Another step is incorporating gamified training to make learning more engaging. I want learners to enjoy the process through challenges, practical tasks, and interactive activities while developing real coding skills. We also plan to expand our partnerships with schools, technology hubs, and other organizations that share our vision. Our partnership with Liberia Tech Hub is a starting point, and I hope to build on it to reach more communities.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
Since 2023, I have used my summer breaks to organize coding bootcamps. I also teach coding daily through our Facebook community, which has over 6,000 followers. Our simple teaching approach has attracted positive feedback, and PyLernen now has 11 users across Nigeria, the UK, and the USA. We have also partnered with Liberia Tech Hub to provide access to 10 learners. I am a member of my school's Student Advisory Council Team, where we discuss growth and ways to improve students' experiences. Being part of these conversations has given me opportunities to raise ideas about using technology like PyLernen to help young people learn useful skills. These discussions have also opened up conversations about how we can make coding education more accessible. I also attend MOCO Code and Coffee, a monthly meetup for people who love coding. I am the youngest person there, but experienced creators welcome me, share advice, and show a willingness to support projects that help others learn. This has helped me see the value of building a community around a shared interest. Through social media, I share my work and teach others, which has led to people showing interest in joining and supporting PyLernen. Going forward, I want to use these school, coding, and online communities to bring more people into PyLernen, connect with potential partners, and create more learning opportunities
