When Zachée joined CYF, he wanted to make an impact in the real world. He also had an interest in learning about it.
“I was hoping to meet new people and make friends, sharpen my social skills, interact with people from diverse backgrounds,” he says.
Being a part of the Tech Education team means being responsible for a lot of budding careers. “I’m a Tech Edu lead,” Zachée says. “I lead classes on Saturdays and help trainees learn to code, which helps them to land a job in tech.”
Zachee speaks to the trainees, explaining some coding concepts
At first, Zacheé wasn’t sure he was right for the role.
When he first joined CYF, he had some initial doubts if he had the right technical skills. He didn’t have to worry. Any professional developer can volunteer at CYF in the Tech Education team (and if you don’t know how to code, there are also mentoring and professional development roles).
Zacheé’s desire to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of others pushed him forward. And the support from the organisation helped too.
“There are always people in the community who are ready to help you whenever you need or have a question.”
Great memories as well as learning opportunities for Zacheé.
Not only has the friendly environment of CYF boosted his confidence, but it has led to a standout moment in Zachee’s journey:
“There are lots of good memories, it’s hard to pick one, but when I visited Scotland, I sat with a group of 5 trainees from 5 different countries. I was very inspired to hear their stories, how they came to the UK, the life in their countries, how what we do as CYF has transformed their lives. I felt like coding also unites people from different backgrounds.”
In terms of what he’s learnt from his experience, this is what he has to say:
“I have developed valuable skills: Volunteering with CYF is a great way to develop my own skills and expertise in web development and teaching. By working with students from diverse backgrounds and with varying levels of experience, I got the opportunity to hone my communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills as well as learn from other volunteers and mentors, and stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies in the tech industry.”
Zachee believes that the best way to understand concepts is through explaining them to someone else, borrowing from the Roman philosopher, Seneca, who stated, “While we teach, we learn.”
Zachee (left) with CYF Founder Germán speaking to a Cape Town trainee.
Part of an inclusive, learning community
The Tech Edu team are blessed to have Zachee as part of their team, where he quickly established himself as a core team member.
His story is an encouragement to all who are willing to contribute their time and skills to making a positive, long-term difference in the lives of others.
If you’re interested in volunteering for CodeYourFuture – you can read more and apply at codeyourfuture.io/volunteers/.
Zachee is an important part of a CYF community – in Cape Town and the UK.
