Junior
Recommended age: 7–12
Interactive stories, simple games, animations, educational projects, simulations and community awareness projects.
Enter Junior →
2026 AFRICAN CONTEST
30 OCTOBER 2026
PLUGGED + UNPLUGGED CREATIVE CODING
Create.
Code.
Imagine.
Solve.
An African platform for children, young people, educators and mentors to turn curiosity into creative coding projects, computational thinking and practical solutions.
7–18
Junior & Senior learners
1–3
Learners per team
100
Points scoring system
CCF / CODING CONTEST
01 when idea meets curiosity
02 create something new
03 test → debug → improve
04 solve a real problem
05 share your story
06 CREATE. CODE. IMAGINE. SOLVE.
🚀
THE CHALLENGE
Don’t just learn code. Use it to create, explain and solve.
The Plugged & Unplugged Coding Contest is designed so coding does not have to live only inside a computer laboratory. Learners can build digital projects using creative coding tools, or demonstrate computational thinking through physical materials, games, storytelling, movement, puzzles and prototypes.
The competition celebrates original learner work, clear thinking, problem-solving, innovation, communication and collaboration — not simply technical complexity.
THIS YEAR'S THEME
Create.
Code.
Imagine.
Solve.
Every project begins with curiosity. What will you create when you are given permission to imagine?
WHO CAN ENTER?
Four ways to compete, create and contribute.
The handbook defines Junior, Senior, Unplugged Coding, and Educator/Mentor categories, with projects expected to demonstrate creativity and computational thinking appropriate to the participant's category.
Senior
Recommended age: 13–18
Interactive applications, games, educational tools, social-impact projects, environmental projects and digital prototypes.
Enter Senior →Unplugged Coding
No primary digital device required
Use paper, cards, physical objects, board games, role play, movement, puzzles, storytelling or prototypes to demonstrate computational thinking.
Enter Unplugged →Educator / Mentor
Teachers, mentors & facilitators
Submit classroom activities, unplugged activities, OctoStudio projects, teaching resources or inclusive creative-coding approaches.
Register as mentor →PROJECT PLAYGROUND
Start with a problem. Finish with something people can experience.
Games
Build interactive experiences that teach, entertain or solve a challenge.
Stories
Turn an idea, community issue or lesson into an interactive story.
Community solutions
Use creative computing to explore a real-world problem and communicate a possible solution.
Unplugged systems
Show algorithms, sequencing, loops, conditions, patterns, debugging and decomposition without relying on a computer.
HOW PROJECTS ARE JUDGED
Build something creative. Then make sure you can explain why it matters.
The official Plugged Coding rubric totals 100 points. Judges consider creativity, relevance, computational thinking, innovation, functionality, communication and teamwork, with age-appropriate expectations.
Download the official 2026 rulebook ↓| Criterion | Max |
|---|---|
| Creativity & Originality | 20 |
| Problem Identification & Relevance | 15 |
| Computational Thinking & Coding | 20 |
| Innovation & Potential Impact | 20 |
| Functionality & User Experience | 10 |
| Presentation & Communication | 10 |
| Teamwork & Collaboration | 5 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
FAIR PLAY
Own your idea. Understand your work. Give credit where it is due.
Original work
Projects must be substantially created by participating learners. Mentors may teach, guide, troubleshoot and help with presentation preparation, but must not create the project on behalf of learners.
External resources
Tutorials, educational resources, open-source resources, platform resources and permitted media may be used. External resources should be acknowledged where appropriate.
Responsible AI use
AI tools may only be used according to the official rules. Learners remain the primary creators and must understand the work submitted. Substantial AI use may need to be disclosed.
Teamwork
Teams may consist of one to three learners unless the Organizing Committee communicates otherwise. Meaningful contribution, respect and cooperation matter.
2026 JOURNEY
From mentor training to national showcase.
Mentor training
Training of mentors at Makerere University CEDAT conference hall.
School training
Creative coding and project-development sessions in participating schools.
National contest
National Coding Contest, Kampala, from 9:00 AM. The handbook lists Kampala as the contest location.
To be communicated
Further global contest information will be communicated by the Organizing Committee.
LEARN BEFORE YOU COMPETE
Upcoming events, training & webinars.
Use these sessions to prepare learners, teachers and mentors. Registration links can be updated from the backend without changing this page.
MENTOR TRAINING
19 SEP
Creative Coding Mentor Training
Prepare mentors to support learners through creative coding, OctoStudio, project development and presentation.
WEBINAR
LIVE ONLINE
How to turn an idea into a coding contest project
A practical preparation session for learners, teachers and mentors. Add the confirmed webinar date and meeting link from the admin panel.
STUDENT PREP
21 SEP–24 OCT
School Coding Preparation
Participating learners develop, test, debug and prepare their projects before the national contest.
SAVE YOUR PLACE
Register for a training event or webinar.
Submit your details and the Creative Child Foundation team can follow up with the confirmed venue, date or online meeting link.
✓ Students
✓ Teachers
✓ Mentors
✓ School coordinators
READY TO BUILD?
Put your idea on the national stage.
Teams may consist of one to three learners. Register your interest and tell us about your school and project idea. The official handbook remains the governing document for eligibility, categories, rules and scoring.
30 OCT 2026Contest day
KAMPALAUganda
1–3Learners per team
CREATE WITH CODE
OctoStudio: the creative coding engine behind this year's journey.
UGANDA LAUNCH · 09 AUGUST 2024
From a mobile phone to a world of imagination.
Creative Child Foundation's current OctoStudio page records the Uganda launch on 9 August 2024 at Makerere University, with Rwanda participating online. The launch was officially inaugurated by the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs.
OctoStudio is a free mobile coding app created by the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, the team behind Scratch. It enables learners to make animations and games, combine photos and sounds with code, and explore creative computing directly on mobile devices.
01 Create stories & games
02 Code with mobile devices
03 Experiment & collaborate
04 Share what you make
CCF × MAKERERE × OCTOSTUDIO
2024
Launch photo placeholder — replace this image with an official OctoStudio launch photograph.
LAUNCH MOMENT
Creating with code
Replace with an official photo from the 2024 OctoStudio launch.
LEARNERS
Young creators in action
Replace with an official school or workshop photograph.
COMMUNITY
Learning together
Replace with an official panel, teacher or mentor photograph.
INNOVATION
Ideas become prototypes
Replace with an official OctoStudio project image.
WATCH & GET INSPIRED
Video stories for the next generation of creators.
CCF VIDEO
Watch the creative technology story
Featured video frame — replace with a dedicated OctoStudio launch recording when available.
▶
YOUTUBE
OctoStudioin action
OFFICIAL CHANNEL
Explore OctoStudio tutorials & examples
Open the OctoStudio YouTube search to choose the most relevant official video for this year's learners.
Watch on YouTube ↗▶
CCF / OCTOSTUDIO
Launchmoments
MEDIA ARCHIVE
Launch stories, workshops & learner projects
Use this frame for an official launch recording as the CCF video archive grows.
Open OctoStudio archive ↗THE INVITATION
Bring the idea you cannot stop thinking about.
Build it. Explain it. Share it. Let it inspire someone else.