# What We've Achieved

### Mobile-Only Intro Coding Course

In February 2023, we piloted the first-ever mobile-phone-based implementation of Harvard CS50 Introduction to Computer Science with students from Kagumo High. The 1-week long course was a resounding success that you can read more about in our [February newsletter](https://directed.notion.site/February-2023-newsletter-fbdac62c7ecd4ccf89476abc64c3cffb). The testimonies from the [intro reel video](https://youtu.be/_dq9z-whX3Y) were recorded after the closing ceremony of that first coding course. In April 2023, we conducted a second intro course with 2 schools (Mang'U High and Mary Girl's High) alongside students from Ngong Road Children's Foundation.&#x20;

### DirectEd Bootcamp Kenya 2023

Between May 2nd and August 12th, 40 students participated in the first DirectEd Bootcamp. The journey began with a [launch day](https://x.com/DirectEdDev/status/1663926322098319360?s=20) at Kenyatta University and ended at the very same university with a [graduation ceremony](https://x.com/DirectEdDev/status/1693591528956899792?s=20). For the graduation ceremony, we were honoured to have the CEO of COTI Group, Shahaf Bar-Geffen join us for an inspirational [speech](https://x.com/DirectEdDev/status/1700167174541779416?s=20).

The bootcamp trained students from Mang'U High, Maryhill Girl's High, Kagumo High and NRCF in full stack web development using the MERN framework - one the most popular frameworks for web application development right now. Students also gained a host of enriching skills covering everything from [how to ace interviews](https://www.jessicapointing.com/), resume writing, atomic habits, effective learning techniques and how to build a tech startup.&#x20;

### Smart Contract Development

We have completed the development of our [open-sourced](https://github.com/orgs/DirectEd-Development-Foundation/repositories) milestones-based scholarship smart contract. Anyone is free to test it on the Cardano preview testnet. We will be finalising the specification  Q2-Q3 and conduct small-scale tests of it with our stakeholders in Kenya. You can read more about it at our [GitHub repository](https://github.com/orgs/DirectEd-Development-Foundation/repositories).&#x20;

## Sponsors and Partnerships&#x20;

We currently have a number of different partnerships and sponsorships other than the previously mentioned partner high schools in Kenya.

* [COTI Group](https://coti.io/): sponsored the first cohort of students at Kagumo High, now known as the "Djed Scholars". CEO Shahaf Bar-Geffen [retweet](https://twitter.com/shahafbg/status/1596204029948092417?s=20\&t=WjBKjbwt100BKeSjC6Ro5w).
* [KIND](https://kindstakepool.com/), [CLOVR](https://www.clovernodes.io/) and [AKYO](https://akyo.org/en/) stake pools: each one donating 25% of their margin fees to DirectEd every month!
* [Kotebe University of Education](https://www.facebook.com/www.kue.edu.et/posts/pfbid02jpEmSuHEzH19oaPjyqUzshTqULJzeLfNpNqZ5WXXDVitCPBxF4GE5Vm9ULCfXtpyl): to develop and implement a cost-effective and scalable coding bootcamp and pilot the use of verifiable credentials.&#x20;
* [Tally](https://www.tally.xyz/): tech internship partner covering a 6-month long paid internship for 4 graduates of the bootcamp (currently underway)
* [Web3usergroup](https://w3ug.org/): to collaborate on fundraising efforts and a shared Discord.
* [Selfdriven Foundation](https://www.selfdriven.foundation/): as students complete learning milestones, donations are being made to our Access Scholarship pools.

