In May 2025, a youth worker from Romania, representing the NGO Se Poate, joined the Erasmus+ project “Code for Change: Empowering Young Changemakers through Programming” in Benalmádena, Spain. This international training brought together participants from across Europe with one shared vision: to learn how programming can become a tool for solving pressing social and environmental problems. It was not simply about teaching lines of code, but about showing how technology can be used ethically, inclusively, and creatively to improve lives and strengthen communities.
In Romania, digital skills are increasingly important, yet access to quality training is uneven. Large cities offer coding courses, tech start-ups, and innovation hubs, but in rural areas, many young people have little exposure to programming beyond basic computer lessons in school. This gap is more than just a technical issue—it reflects deeper inequalities in access to opportunity. Without these skills, many young people are excluded from one of the fastest-growing sectors in the economy, and communities miss out on the creative solutions they could bring to local challenges. The situation is especially difficult for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, where limited resources and lack of role models make it harder to explore technology as a path for personal and social development.
The “Code for Change” training provided a fresh perspective on how to close this gap. Over the course of the program, participants received hands-on instruction in key programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS. However, the sessions went far beyond technical skills. Trainers encouraged participants to think about the social impact of the tools they were building, and to design with principles such as accessibility, user privacy, and inclusivity in mind. The focus was not only on creating working prototypes, but also on making sure these prototypes could serve diverse communities in fair and responsible ways.
One of the most inspiring aspects of the training was the exchange of ideas between participants from different countries. Stories emerged of small coding projects making a big difference: a mobile app that connected elderly people with volunteers, a platform that helped farmers share resources, and a website that promoted cultural exchange between young people in divided communities. These examples demonstrated that technology does not need to be large-scale or expensive to be meaningful—it simply needs to be designed with people’s real needs at heart.
The experience in Benalmádena also included visits to local initiatives that had successfully combined technology with community action. Seeing how small, well-targeted tech projects could foster engagement and bring people together inspired participants to think about what might be possible in their own contexts. It became clear that coding was not just a technical skill but a form of civic engagement, one that could empower young people to become active problem-solvers in their communities.
Upon returning to Romania, the youth worker from Se Poate launched a local initiative called “Digital Roots.” The aim was to bring coding education to rural communities and small towns, focusing on both technical skills and the creative, problem-solving mindset learned during the training. Workshops were held in schools, libraries, and community centers, using a project-based approach that encouraged participants to identify issues in their own towns and design simple digital solutions to address them.
In one community, a group of teenagers created a website to promote local artisans and small family businesses, helping them reach customers beyond their immediate area. In another, students designed an online reporting tool for environmental hazards, enabling residents to quickly share information with local authorities. These projects not only improved digital literacy but also strengthened the sense of agency among young people, showing them that they could be active contributors to their community’s future.
The impact of “Digital Roots” began to extend beyond the workshops themselves. Teachers reported that students involved in the program became more confident, more willing to collaborate, and more creative in their thinking. Some participants even expressed interest in pursuing careers in technology, a path they had not previously considered. Local authorities took notice as well, exploring ways to support the initiative and integrate digital skills training into ongoing community programs.
The training in Benalmádena had planted a seed that was now growing into a sustainable model for community empowerment. By combining programming skills with a focus on ethical, inclusive design, the project in Romania showed that technology could be a tool not only for individual advancement but also for building stronger, more connected communities.
Looking forward, Se Poate plans to expand “Digital Roots” to new regions, develop advanced modules for participants who want to continue learning, and create partnerships with other European organizations to exchange ideas and collaborate on joint projects. The long-term vision is to create a generation of young people who are not only skilled in technology but also committed to using those skills for the common good.
The “Code for Change” experience proved that when young people are given the tools, knowledge, and encouragement to innovate, they can turn lines of code into real-world change. It is a reminder that technology’s true potential lies not in the complexity of the programs created, but in the positive impact they can have on the people who use them.