Ghia’s Story
Published on 31/07/2023
Ghia secures her first job as a front-end developer
How a student from a public school in Aley became a skilled coder
Ghia is one of our 17-year-old Web Dev Programme student. This is her story of how she transformed her fears about the future into hope and determination.
Ghia attends an under-resourced public school in Mount Lebanon, and when we first met her, she was unsure about her future. “When I finished my first high school year, I felt that I didn’t have any skills. I needed something that would be a lifetime asset,” she said. The problem was clear. Lebanon’s outdated educational system was failing her like all the country’s youth and Ghia was among those who realised they were being left behind. With the country’s economic crisis on top of that, it also means that oftentimes than not, Ghia would stay home as her teachers go on strike, demanding better wages. She felt lost and frustrated.
She needed to acquire skills and build the confidence to turn her aspirations into reality, but nothing quite clicked until she found out about CodeBrave. Ghia joined CodeBrave’s Web Dev Programme, determined to find her path. “This turned out to be an unexpected blessing”.
Ghia starts her coding journey
Quick enough, Ghia became fascinated with the potential of coding. “This was different. I started understanding how it works, how to debug, and how to find solutions! We began by simply moving a small turtle using its library. Then, after a few weeks of learning Python, I was playing and manipulating it to achieve a goal. I saw that one day, we would need it for daily basics, and I started loving the idea. Now, I code out of the urge that I can’t live without it!,” Ghia told us. Check out this project she completed early on in the Web Dev Programme.
Ghia secures her first job as a front-end developer
Ghia’s new-found tech skills also boosted her confidence. “We got this power of being solid independent warriors. This Web Dev Programme helped me with my mental health and gave me an experience most teenagers my age get scared of!,” she said. Ghia began combining coding and her imagination to achieve what she set her mind to. She also felt part of a community where she could learn and thrive. At the end of the Programme, Ghia secured her first job as a front-end developer.
Ghia’s transformation is awe-inspiring. She no longer feels lost about her future now, nor like she’s missing out on opportunities. We loved to hear how Ghia feels like a warrior, capable and ready to face any challenge, her fears about the future transformed into hope and determination.
At CodeBrave, we believe that all children need STEM education and 21st century skills to improve their lives and build a successful future. With your support, we can upskill talented and underserved students, enabling them to unlock their potential and providing them with opportunities they deserve. Join us in powering Lebanon’s next generation with tech skills. Together, we can shape a future where resilient young minds like Ghia can become the heroes of their own stories.
One of Ghia’s early projects
Ghia’s testimonial
“CodeBrave turned out to be an unexpected blessing. I didn’t even consider coding as an option before. I took the opportunity and believed in it after our first Student Gathering where we heard [the previous graduates’] talk about how this opportunity helped them.”
“I started with some basic coding knowledge, but it was different this time. I started understanding how it works, started to learn how to debug, and find solutions! We began by moving a small turtle using its library. But then, after a few weeks of learning Python, I started to play and manipulate Python to help me achieve my goal. In the third phase of the Programme, I got my first job as a front-end developer after I got confident in my skills that I can apply whatever I can imagine!
Our needs were fully covered [in the Web Dev Programme]. What we needed most was someone assigning us projects with NEAR DEADLINES. They helped us get better and stronger and survive under pressure to achieve our goals. It was a bit hard while trying to handle CodeBrave with school and midterms, and a bit challenging after long working hours to take coding sessions, but it was definitely worth it. We got to have this power of being solid independent warriors. As a student, I am grateful for this, as it helped me with my mental health and gave me an experience most teenagers my age get scared of!”