Celebrating the community: Douglas and Oasis Mathare

We love hearing from members of the community and sharing the stories of amazing young people, volunteers, and educators who are using their passion for technology to create positive change in the world around them.

Last year, we shared the story of Douglas, founder and director of Oasis Mathare, an organisation using technology to open doors for young people in one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements. 

In our latest community story, we meet Douglas again, this time alongside the mentors and young people at the heart of Oasis Mathare’s Code Clubs. 

Together, they share what coding really means for a community where most young people don’t finish formal education, and where the opportunity to learn a new skill can genuinely change the course of a life.

Douglas’ motivation

Douglas has always been clear about why technology sits at the heart of everything Oasis Mathare does.

“Technology does not have a boundary. It knows no gender, no race. As long as you have access to a computer, you have access to the internet, and you’re being guided, the opportunities are limitless.”

This belief didn’t come from his own journey with formal education — it came from an internet cafe and a lot of curiosity and independent learning. Douglas grew up in Mathare knowing that most young people there were not likely to finish formal education. Rather than seeing that as inevitable, he saw it as a hurdle to overcome.

“I used to go to a nearby internet café where I learned some basic graphic design and got my first employment with no formal training. And I realised it’s really possible to gain a decent livelihood with just skills.”

What Code Club looks like in Mathare

Oasis Mathare now runs Code Clubs in schools and at its own centre, introducing children to programming long before they might encounter it anywhere else. Code Club and the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s learning pathways have become key drivers of the positive impact.

“The resources that we use from [the Foundation] are structured in a really creative way to help kids learn. Initially we had developed curricula to run a Code Club, there were some missing pieces, but now with the Raspberry Pi Foundation pathways, it has sort of bridged the gap that we were facing.”

Students becoming mentors

Perhaps the most powerful thing happening at Oasis Mathare right now is the pipeline forming from learners to leaders. Many young people who come through Code Club go on to volunteer, becoming role models for the children sitting where they once sat.

“It feels so nice seeing students becoming mentors. They act as role models to the Code Club participants. As they are being mentors, it improves their communication and delivery. We are giving them opportunities to work with us to sharpen their skills so that they can get to a greener pasture.”

Keziah, a mentor, shared what drew them to Code Club:

“Being idle around the community can lead to so many negative impacts, so I decided to join Code Club to volunteer, hoping to have a better connection and career growth.”

Faith, a student and mentor, shared a key discovery:

“My thought was like coding is only for genius kids and the smart ones. But I will encourage a young learner to actually partake in this. Coding is not hard. It’s actually fun.”

Hope, another mentor, shared just how impactful being a part of a young person’s journey can be:

“The moment the kids realised they belong to a Code Club is when I see their face light up when their projects run. They made me feel achieved. They made me feel, as a facilitator, as a good mentor. And that’s changed me.”

It’s a reminder that Code Club isn’t just about code. It’s about what happens to a young person’s sense of themselves when they build something that works.

A message to young people everywhere

Douglas shared his wish for any young person living in an underserved community who feels like their future has already been written for them.

“For any young person from Mathare or any other underserved community around the globe who feels that their future is limited, I would like to tell you that it is really possible. It is really possible to change your life, as long as you have a positive mind, you have hope, and you’re working hard.”

Inspired to make an impact in your community?

Douglas and the team at Oasis Mathare are proof of what’s possible when young people have access to learning resources, guidance, and belief. You can find out more about their work at oasismathare.org.

If their story has inspired you to bring coding to young people in your own community, Code Club makes it straightforward to get started, with free resources, training, and a supportive global community behind you. Find out more at codeclub.org.

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