COBOBLOCKS Launches First Coding Class for Children in Kenya
We’re excited to share a big milestone—COBOBLOCKS (https://coboblocks.com) has officially launched its first-ever coding program for children in Kenya!
COBOBLOCKS is a hands-on, unplugged coding kit designed for young learners. Children can build with blocks, create visual code sequences, and bring robots to life—making them draw, move, and explore logic. The kit is suitable for kids from preschool to elementary school.
In March 2025, we shipped our COBOBLOCKS kits—including robot cars, coding blocks, pen holders, and markers—to a local education institution “Usayansi Kenya” NGO (https://usayansikenya.org) in Kenya.
To help teachers feel confident using the kit, we hosted two live ZOOM training sessions. In the first session, we introduced the key components of the kit, how it works, and how to use it in individual or small group settings. We also explored how to teach basic sequencing and keep young learners engaged.
The second session focused on loop structures using repeat blocks. Teachers learned how to attach pens to the robot cars and use loops to draw lines and shapes. During the live sessions, teachers tried out the kit on camera, asked questions, and shared ideas. About 15 teachers participated, and they agreed to share the kits across schools on a rotating schedule.
One teacher commented, “I realized coding for young kids can be fun and easy with tools like this.”
Based on the training, a two-week COBOBLOCKS Coding Bootcamp was run for 32 students aged 5–7. Children from Pre-Primary 2 to Grade 1 worked in teams of six, sharing kits and learning how to move robots forward, backward, and in circles. They gradually progressed to more advanced sequences.
At the end of the bootcamp, we conducted a short survey. Most students said things like:
“Coding is fun!”
“I love watching the robot move!”
“Working with friends is the best!”
Teachers said they were nervous at first but found the training easy to follow and the kids’ enthusiasm incredibly rewarding.
This Kenya project is a small step toward a big goal—making digital education more equitable and accessible worldwide. We believe every child, no matter where they are, deserves the chance to learn the language of the future.
We look forward to expanding COBOBLOCKS to more regions and continuing this meaningful journey with educators around the globe.
- We are expanding the coding program to the entire region of Kenya. If this expansion is done well, we plan to expand education to other countries in Africa through Kenya.
- COBOBLOCKS, with 3 Free(Screen, WiFi, Languages), must be the best coding kit for children in the African region.
- The curriculum in Kenya of COBOBLOCKS Coding Program is being conducted with Usayansi Kenya NGO on the below schedule.
- 11 April 2025 – COBOBLOCKS Coding Program-Teacher Training I
- 14 – 22 April 2025 – Usayansi Coding Camp (3 schools, 32 children participated in the program)
- 24 April 2025 – Usayansi Coding Camp Report No. 1 (download click)
- 28 April 2025 – COBOBLOCKS Coding Program-Teacher Training II , Total 9 teachers of Usayansi Kenya participated in this training Session.
- 29 April 2025 – the COBOLOCKS Coding program for six kindergarten schools begun. The program will be given to 200 children or more aged 4 years and 5 years (Pre, primary 1 and 2). This successful program expansion was possible with a great level of cooperation and enthusiasm from the participated school heads
- Usayansi Kenya said that COBOBLOCK coding program aligns very well with Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which the government is actively implementing.
- So, they are eager to receive a formal approval of COBOBLOCKS coding program from the Ministry of Education in Kenya. Once they receive the official approval, our teachers will be authorized to conduct learners surveys and share photos and videos of classroom activities. In Kenya, obtaining permission from the MOE is requirement before collecting data or media involving young learners.
- Another exciting initiative theye are currently developing is the COBOBLOCKS Contest- a fun and engaging coding competition among the participating kindergarten schools. This forum will provide early learners with an opportunity to showcase their creativity and talents in Scratch coding using COBOBLOCKS
Photos of various activities
