Hussein’s Story

“If we didn’t have coding class, I would’ve dropped out.”

Hussein, 15

A few months ago, Hussein made the decision to permanently leave school.

“There were so many subjects I wasn’t good at,” he told us. “I felt like there was nothing left for me to learn.”

The class that changed everything

Then, Hussein walked into his first coding session.

“I felt like my life changed,” he said. “We were learning something entirely new. I started looking forward to school, just so I could attend coding class. So I decided to stay.”

CodeBrave, in partnership with UNICEF, introduced computer science and AI classes to 25 public schools this year. Hussein’s chemistry teacher, Mariana, was one of 64 teachers who shadowed programme implementation to help sustain tech education in future school years; that’s when she noticed the shift.

“Hussein’s whole attitude changed,” she said. “He was focused and motivated, and for the first time, he started talking about his future.”

Finding his own path

With each new project, Hussein’s confidence grew. He began photographing his work to show his family.

“I was surprised I could actually do it,” he said. “We had a lot of projects, and I managed to complete them all. That hadn’t happened in a long time.”

What stood out most to him wasn’t just the coding; it was the feeling.

“I was learning things I’d never seen before. I felt proud. And I started to believe these skills could help me get a good job and support my family.”

A future in tech

Today, Hussein is not only still in school; he’s also planning to specialise in computers and coding at a vocational centre after graduation.

“I advise everyone to try coding,” he said. “Especially if you’re struggling in school. You’ll benefit a lot. And after class, you’ll feel like you can actually build something.”

His teacher agrees:

“Some students don’t perform well in traditional subjects, but coding opens a door. They gain skills, confidence, and even something deeper. They start to believe in themselves.”

Hussein is just one of over 3,000 students across Lebanon who discovered something they didn’t know they had—curiosity, pride, and a new reason to keep learning.

NB: This blog, like all our blogs, has been published with the final review and consent of the student and teacher in question.