On December 15, kids from all over Greece are coming together to compete in the Enigma Coding Championship for the third time. Organized by MakerLab, the championship invites students as young as nine to solve logical challenges through coding. It may look like just a techy competition, but Enigma has a deeper purpose: to spark interest in creative coding, logical problem-solving, and technological innovation in children.
One of the leaders of this effort is Vasiliki Pantoula, co-founder of MakerLab, who has been an advocate for early tech and STEM learning for years. Her dedication, combined with MakerLab’s vision, makes sure that kids across Greece can gain access to quality coding education which lays the foundation for future innovators.
Coding is for Everyone
MakerLab is on a mission to revolutionize education by introducing coding, robotics and other critical STEM subjects to students from an early age. Pantoula, a driving force behind this mission, has been visiting several schools across Greece in October and November, offering free training sessions to prepare students for Enigma. "Teaching kids to code is about developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills," she explains. "en[i]gma helps kids develop these skills in a fun, supportive environment."
"Enigma helps kids develop these skills in a fun, supportive environment."
Rejecting the norms of more elitist coding competitions, Enigma is also open for students with very basic coding skills and is divided into three levels: junior, senior and advanced. “Coding is for everyone, and so is Enigma”, says Pantoula. The competition makes coding welcoming and fun even for very young kids, and is opening its doors for anyone who has an interest in coding.
Academic Exposure
Hosted in partnership with the National Technical University of Athens, the Technical Chamber of Greece, and the University of Patras, the event creates an atmosphere where students can interact with mentors and experts. “This exposure to an academic environment is very important for kids”, says Pantoula. “They meet professors, PhD students and other high-ranking members of educational institutions - and they want to be like them! It is such an inspiration for them to be around positive role models."
Giorgos Zamparas is an educator at MakerLab who also works hard on making the Enigma Coding Championship event happen every year. Together with Pantoula, he has been offering lessons to elementary school children for the past couple of months. "We’re determined to reach every student," he says.
"This isn’t just about coding; it’s about giving kids the tools they need to succeed in tomorrow's workforce."
Visit https://www.enigma.cc/ to learn more about Enigma. If you would like to join the championship for free, the deadline for registration is December 5.