Why CodeBrave Starts With Teaching Web Development Languages
Published on 16/05/2025
Imagine how thrilled Alkaakaa, a 16-year-old CodeBrave student, was when he turned his idea into a real project, building it from scratch and seeing the reaction from his family and friends. Just one month earlier, he had zero coding knowledge.
We strive to ignite that same spark in all of our older students. Our approach to coding goes beyond syntax. We’re teaching students 21st-century skills and how to unlock their creative potential. To achieve this, we start with teaching Python and web development languages, equipping students with the tools to leverage AI and effectively teaching them how to self-learn and thrive in the digital age.
Building a Strong Foundation with Python
Studies from MIT [Resnick, M., & Rosenbaum, E., 2013] highlight how project-based learning — where students build tangible projects — boosts both motivation and knowledge retention. So when we tell students they’ll build their own games like Tic-Tac-Toe with Python, coding is demystified and any apprehension melts away.
Python’s clear and readable syntax makes it an ideal starting point for beginners [Punch, W. F., & Enbody, R. J., 2012], allowing them to focus on problem-solving, a core skill in coding and in life.
Real Results, Real Fast: Instead of getting bogged down in complex syntax, students quickly see their ideas come to life. Even a simple ‘print(“Hello, world!”)’ can be a moment of triumph.
Core Skills for Life: Diving into creating fun, engaging projects like a text-based game like Hangman or Rock-Paper-Scissors helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential in any field.
From Python to Web: Unleashing Creativity
Once our students are confident with Python, we move into web development. The logical thinking they’ve built transfers naturally into front-end creation. Students learn to translate their ideas into visually engaging websites, sharing their passions with a global audience.
Take Alaa, for example. His website, like all websites, is built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — the core languages of the internet. By mastering these languages, students gain valuable 21st-century skills, self-confidence in the tech field, and the ability to keep pushing themselves further.
More importantly, they learn how to teach themselves. By learning to debug code and build websites, students develop the independent problem-solving skills essential for lifelong learning. Once they realise they can build a website or code with Python, they understand they can learn anything.
First Coding. Then, AI
At CodeBrave, we embrace AI-powered code tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot — but only after students understand coding at a conceptual level. Just like we teach mental maths before handing students a calculator, we believe it’s essential to first understand how code works — how to think logically and how to break problems down step by step.
Once students are confident in Python or web development, we introduce AI as a way to accelerate their process — not replace it. At this stage, they learn how to:
- 1. Prompt AI clearly and accurately
- 2. Understand and troubleshoot the code it generates
- 3. Evaluate if the solution is appropriate, secure, and efficient
This doesn’t just make them faster coders — it makes them more thoughtful techies who understand both what they’re building and why.
More Than Just Code: Equipping Lebanon’s next generation
Lebanon faces significant challenges, with youth unemployment at 47.8% [ILO, 2024], and 76% of companies report a gap between university education and the local job market. 88% of tech companies are also struggling to find local talent [World Bank, 2022].
At CodeBrave, we’re committed to bridging this gap — by giving youth in disadvantaged areas access to the skills and opportunities of the digital world.
And it’s working. Alaa, for example, has secured five paid freelance jobs since joining CodeBrave — enough to help fund his university tuition.
We’re not just creating coders; we’re cultivating future innovators. Our programmes foster a growth mindset, instil a love of lifelong learning, and equip students with the skills needed to thrive in a dynamic world. Our goal is to equip Lebanon’s next generation with the tools to shape their own future.
Click here to learn more about our work and how you can support students like Alaa and Alkaakaa.