Junior
Primary school students
Great for learners discovering creative coding, stories, games, animations and simple community solutions.
THE AFRICAN CODING 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.
JUNIOR
Primary school students
SENIOR
Secondary school students
TERTIARY
University & college students
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 PARTICIPATE?
Teachers register teams of up to three students.
Creative Child Foundation's 2026 registration pathway groups participants as Junior, Senior and Tertiary. A teacher or school/college coordinator registers the team.
Senior
Secondary school students
Ideal for deeper problem-solving, systems thinking, web projects, Python, AI and more ambitious prototypes.
Tertiary
University & college students
University and college teams can use the contest to turn technical knowledge into practical African innovation.
Up to 3 students
One teacher registers the team
Add student 1, student 2 and student 3 where applicable. Every student should make a meaningful contribution.
THE FOUR CHALLENGE AREAS
Choose one real African challenge. Then build the future.
The official African Coding Contest 2026 Rulebook requires every team to select one of four challenge areas.
Future of Healthcare
Make healthcare more accessible, affordable, preventive, intelligent and people-centred.
- Early disease detection
- Rural healthcare
- Maternal & child health
- Emergency response
- Patient monitoring
- Telehealth
Future of Farming & Food
Use technology to produce more food, reduce waste and build resilient agricultural communities.
- Smart farming
- Crop monitoring
- Irrigation
- Pest detection
- Food storage
- Post-harvest loss
Future of Education
Transform learning and make quality education more accessible to every child.
- Personalized learning
- Offline education
- AI learning assistants
- Teacher support
- Digital literacy
- Special-needs education
Future of Climate, Energy & Environment
Help communities build a climate-resilient, sustainable and environmentally responsible future.
- Climate adaptation
- Renewable energy
- Water management
- Waste & recycling
- Biodiversity
- Clean cooking
IDENTIFY→UNDERSTAND→IMAGINE→DESIGN→BUILD→TEST→IMPROVE→DEMONSTRATE
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.
TRAIN THE TRAINER
Mentor workshops ahead of The African Coding Contest 2026.
Six practical sessions prepare mentors and school outreach teams across OctoStudio, Scratch, C, HTML & CSS and Python.
SKILLS TO INSPIRE THE YOUNG GENERATION
LAUNCH + UNIVERSITY TRAINING
19 SEP
African Coding Contest 2026 Launch & University Student Training
Official launch activity and practical coding orientation for university and college students.
PHYSICAL
29 AUG
OctoStudio & Scratch
Hands-on train-the-trainer workshop.
VIRTUAL
02 SEP
HTML & CSS
Web development mentor training.
VIRTUAL
03 SEP
Python
Python programming mentor training.
GLOBAL VIRTUAL
04 SEP
OctoStudio
Global virtual training with OctoStudio.
GENERAL VIRTUAL
07 SEP
General training & outreach orientation
Mentor briefing, school outreach and contest readiness.
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.
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.
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
BRING THE LEARNING TO YOUR SCHOOL
Request a CCF coding & innovation workshop
Teachers and school administrators can request a tailored workshop and share the learner numbers, inclusion needs, devices and facilities available at the school.
Request a workshop at your school →READY TO BUILD?
Put your idea on the national stage.
Teachers register teams of up to three students. Choose a challenge, identify a real problem, build a prototype and prepare to demonstrate it.
30 OCT 2026Contest day
KAMPALAUganda
1–3Learners per team
LEARN. PRACTICE. BUILD.
Choose a tutorial pathway for your challenge.
Dedicated learning pages bring together beginner-friendly video resources and practice guidance for Scratch, web development, Python, Machine Learning & AI, Public Speaking & Presentation, OctoStudio, unplugged coding and C.
Scratch Tutorials
Build interactive stories, animations and games from first blocks to advanced creative coding.
Open Scratch tutorial hub →Web Development
Learn HTML, CSS and JavaScript and turn a community idea into a working website.
Open web tutorial hub →Python Programming
Grow from beginner logic to projects, data, automation and responsible AI foundations.
Open Python tutorial hub →Machine Learning & AI
Discover patterns, data, models and responsible AI through age-appropriate projects.
Open AI tutorial hub →Public Speaking & Presentation
Turn a great project into a clear story, confident demonstration and memorable pitch.
Open presentation skills hub →OctoStudio
Explore mobile-first creative coding, interactive stories and games.
Explore OctoStudio →Unplugged Coding
Learn algorithms, sequencing, loops and problem-solving without needing a computer.
Open unplugged tutorial hub →C Programming
Discover the foundations of variables, logic, functions and embedded/robotics programming.
Open C programming hub →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
OctoStudio- a free mobile coding app made by the creators of Scratch at the MIT Media Lab was successfully launched in Uganda on the 9th day of August 2024 at Makerere University & Rwanda (online), officially inaugurated by the Honorable Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs.
LAUNCH MOMENT
Creating with code
Hon. Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, the then State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs (Current Cabinet Minister for Local Government) officially launched OctoStudio in Uganda.
LEARNERS
Young creators in action
Young scientists create meaningful projects using OctoStudio during its launch in Uganda. Learners were introduced to OctoStudio by a team from MIT Media Lab (remote) & the volunteering team on ground
COMMUNITY
Learning together
A teacher from Greenhill Primary School, Buwaate sharing knowledge with the audience during panel discussion when OctoStudio was launching in Uganda
INNOVATION
Ideas become prototypes
#OctoStudio is a revolutionary coding app designed to empower young minds with the tools and skills to create their own stories, games, and animations—anytime, anywhere.
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.
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 ↗
MEDIA ARCHIVE
Launch stories, workshops & learner projects
Access the CCF media archive on Creative coding with OctoStudio.
Open OctoStudio archive ↗THE INVITATION
Bring the idea you cannot stop thinking about.
Build it. Explain it. Share it. Let it inspire someone else.
PARTNERS & ECOSYSTEM
Building Africa's creative coding future together.
We are grateful to the institutions and communities that connect learners, educators, research, creativity and innovation.
