Amirreza first heard about CodeYourFuture in July 2023. At the time, he wasn’t sure of the organisation’s impact or what contribution he could make. After more than a year of volunteering, he has discovered that CYF is far more than just a training program—it’s a transformative community. More than just teaching Amirreza’s role at CYF isn’t simply about lecturing. “Being … Read More
Gayle’s story: A ‘Can Do’ Attitude in a Path to Success
Before joining CodeYourFuture (CYF), Gayle found herself in a job with no room for growth or development. But she had a clear goal in mind when she began her journey with CYF: “I wanted to acquire new skills and give myself a chance to find better jobs and improve the quality of life for me and my family.” Initially, Gayle … Read More
Tersia’s Journey: Curiosity and Perseverance Fuel a Career Change
Tersia’s path to a career in tech is a story of perseverance and growth. “About 12 years back, I knew very little of how to use a computer.”, she says. “There was a time I was unemployed and in my community there were little workshops for you to use a computer, get more comfortable with it, and in that … Read More
Junita’s story: from zero coding experience to thriving IT career
Junita works in IT, but this wasn’t always the case. After the Covid-19 pandemic, she was raising her one-year-old daughter full-time, having previously worked in the hospitality sector, and was searching for something which could provide the flexibility she sorely needed. “After having my daughter, I wanted to have a flexible job which would provide me with a balance between … Read More
Negin’s story: From Retail to Tech
Negin’s path to tech wasn’t straightforward. As a former journalist in her home country, she arrived in the UK hoping to find rewarding work. However, her initial plans didn’t quite work out as expected. She found herself working in retail – a job that was meant to be temporary but stretched into years. Negin felt stuck in her retail … Read More
Jemima’s volunteer story: finding meaning through teaching
In 2021, Jemima Villanueva realised she was craving something more meaningful in her life, so she decided to join CodeYourFuture as a volunteer. “The pandemic really widened the gap between the rich and the poor, and those whose lives got worse vs. those whose lives got better. The need to address that disparity felt particularly acute for me then.” Professional … Read More
How CodeYourFuture Prepares Graduates to Thrive in Today’s Tech Industry
In late 2023, CodeYourFuture (CYF) faced a harsh reality. The job market for junior developers had shrunk dramatically. By early 2024, things hadn’t improved. Despite our track record of training developers to high standards, we had to act. We made the tough choice to delay classes. And we didn’t stop there. We completely redesigned our program. We tapped into … Read More
Jonathan’s story: From Finance to Coding Mentor
Despite having a rewarding career as a programmer in finance, Jonation knew something was missing, He felt a pull to give back to society and develop himself further. “I wanted to atone for my hedge fund sins… and also expand my horizons!” he says with a smile. His search for meaningful work led Jonathan to CodeYourFuture (CYF), where he now … Read More
Anthony’s story: Aspiring Developer to Tech Professional
Do you have a dream but not the support to make it a reality? That was Anthony at the start of his journey to become a software developer. Living in Cape Town, he had a clear aim but lacked the funds to pursue further studies. “I was seeking a learning opportunity in software development. After carefully considering my next career … Read More
Tourist > Refugee > Developer: Natalie’s Story
Natalie’s world imploded while she was travelling through the UK. A tourist in one moment, a refugee the next, she was caught off guard by the full-scale invasion of her homeland, leading to a devastating war. “After two months of staying in temporary Airbnbs while glued to the news and supporting loved ones back home – I realised it was … Read More