Capital digital and the new normal

Capital Digital has been the banner of the youth wing of Maks vzw for several years. Young people from specific neighbourhoods are trained as STEAM animators (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics). Using the skills acquired, they then animate a training week for children aged 8 to 12.

By 2020, our 4 courses have gone fully online. Many of the young people did not have a computer to participate in the training. Maks lent each of them a laptop. The coaches of the youth team showed spirit by digitally delivering all the learning. It alternated between live lessons and assignments the youngsters had to solve independently such as designing a game, developing an application or preparing a presentation.

The training was always dynamic through the use of break-out rooms, interactive drawing boards and online energisers such as dance or meditation exercises. The coaches helped the animators plan for the Capital Digital training weeks. A total of 160 young people participated in online training.

Key to 2020 was the challenge of making Capital Digital safe. The Capital Digital internships will take place in 3 municipalities (Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Schaarbeek) in 4 different locations in French and in Dutch.

How do you organise a digital playground in times of corona?
Learning to deal flexibly with unexpected circumstances and implementing clear measures by a team of adult coaches is challenge number one. A second challenge is that some of these coaches are still in training. For many of them, Capital Digital is also their first work experience. So everyone gets a lot of new information and experiences.

The spring holiday was a successful edition with a record number of 120 children participating. During the Easter holidays, we were in the first lockdown. Our audience was encouraged to participate online through a video on social media. We organised the training course for children online. Again, laptops were lent out. Eight volunteers were added among the animators, while the coaches provided online activities for some 40 children.

During the summer months, we organised the Capital Digital training programme back on site. We limited the number of participants, watching over contact bubbles while paying extra attention to hygiene.

Flexible going forward: Capital Digital will also be here in 2021!
Further info and registration details can be found at www.capitaldigital.org

I learnt so much about coding and how to interact with children
BARRY KADIATOU
Trainee animator

Even behind a screen, there was sharing and laughter
HOUSSEM HELALI
Trainee animator