In May 2025, a youth worker from Hungary, representing the NGO Kreatív Ifjúsági Akadémia Magyarország, took part in the Erasmus+ project “Code for Change: Empowering Young Changemakers through Programming” in Benalmádena, Spain. This initiative brought together passionate youth workers, educators, and community leaders from across Europe with one shared vision: to equip young people with the technical skills, innovative mindset, and ethical awareness needed to address pressing social and environmental challenges through technology. The project was not only about learning coding languages; it was about using those skills to create digital solutions that could make a lasting difference in communities.
Hungary, like many other countries, faces a growing digital divide. While urban areas such as Budapest enjoy access to advanced technology and digital education, many smaller towns and rural regions still lack the resources and opportunities for young people to develop strong digital skills. This gap is further widened by social inequalities, which leave some communities without the tools or guidance to take advantage of the digital economy. At the same time, Hungary is dealing with environmental challenges, including waste management issues and the effects of climate change on rural areas, as well as social issues like youth unemployment and mental health concerns. These realities made the focus of the project highly relevant for the Hungarian context.
The training in Benalmádena provided a transformative learning experience. Participants were introduced to coding in Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS, but the emphasis was always on creating solutions that serve people and respect human rights. Trainers highlighted the importance of ethical and inclusive design, encouraging participants to think about accessibility, data privacy, and cultural sensitivity when creating digital platforms. The idea was not only to teach technical skills but also to inspire youth workers to use technology as a force for good.
Seeing examples of community-driven technology projects from other countries was particularly inspiring. In Spain, local youth initiatives included apps for connecting volunteers with elderly residents, digital tools for small farmers to sell directly to consumers, and online platforms to support mental health. These projects were not just clever technical solutions; they were rooted in real needs and built with strong community involvement. This reinforced the belief that coding is most impactful when it is guided by empathy and a deep understanding of local challenges.
The international environment of the training allowed for rich exchanges of ideas. Participants shared how they addressed similar issues in their own countries, and these conversations sparked new perspectives. It became clear that although the social and economic realities may differ, the desire to use technology to create positive change is universal.
Upon returning to Hungary, the youth worker launched an initiative called “Digital Bridges” through Kreatív Ifjúsági Akadémia Magyarország. This program set out to bring coding workshops and problem-solving sessions to small towns and rural communities, focusing on areas where young people had limited exposure to such opportunities. Each workshop combined hands-on programming lessons with collaborative activities, guiding participants to identify local issues and think of ways digital solutions could address them.
Several promising projects emerged from these workshops. In one town, a group of teenagers created an online map to connect residents with local recycling points and waste collection schedules, helping improve environmental awareness. Another team designed a website where community members could share unused household items, reducing waste and strengthening neighborly connections. These projects showed that even small-scale, local initiatives can have a meaningful impact when they are built with the community’s needs in mind.
The impact of “Digital Bridges” was felt both by the participants and the wider community. Young people not only learned coding skills but also gained confidence, teamwork abilities, and a sense of responsibility for their surroundings. Local leaders began to see the value of involving youth in decision-making and project planning. Some schools expressed interest in integrating similar workshops into their extracurricular programs, ensuring that more students could benefit from this approach.
The “Code for Change” project demonstrated that technology is not just about innovation for its own sake; it is about finding practical, inclusive, and ethical ways to solve problems. In Hungary, empowering youth with these skills means giving them the tools to actively shape their own futures and contribute to the well-being of their communities.
Looking ahead, Kreatív Ifjúsági Akadémia Magyarország plans to expand “Digital Bridges” to more regions and create online mentorship programs that connect Hungarian youth with international peers. The goal is to foster a network of young changemakers who can share knowledge, collaborate across borders, and continue building solutions that address global and local challenges.
This experience confirmed that when young people are given the right skills, the encouragement to think creatively, and the awareness to act ethically, they can lead change in ways that benefit everyone. Technology, when used with purpose and compassion, becomes more than a career path—it becomes a way to build a better, more inclusive future.