After months of choosing from 30 000 applications and taking 300 youths through three bootcamps, WeThinkCode_ finally has the final 120 who’ll be taking part in its two-year programme.

WeThinkCode_ held its kick-off launch last night after closing the opening chapter which began in October last year when applications were opened to any young South African between the ages of 18 and 25.

htxt.africa had the opportunity to visit the WeThinkCode_ headquarters in the Joburg CBD in February this year to see what a typical day in the programme’s class is like for its coders.

According to WeThinkCode_ co-director, Camille Agon, over 26 sponsors raised R13 Million to support WeThinkCode_.

“Computer programmers are going to be designing the future Africa. We aim to grow the institution annually offering an opportunity for women and men from all backgrounds to apply for this programme,” she said at last night’s launch event.

Below is a look at the kind of participants chosen for WeThinkCode_ and their stories:

Michael (19)

“I finished matric last year (I actually decided to take the test while I was studying for my math prelim),” Michael says.

Michael added that he enjoys coding because he loves to find and solve problems and is always up for a good challenge.

“WeThinkCode_ is a very different type of challenge, I like how it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from.

“It doesn’t even matter how good your marks were in school. If you have the potential to be a good coder you are being given a chance. Bootcamp is one big challenge. Time management is probably the greatest, as the Bootcamp is always throwing curve balls at you and trying to see how many different tasks you can juggle at the same time”.

“Most of the memorable moments I have from the Bootcamp are the times that I spent coding. The atmosphere here is amazing and it is fun to interact with people that are all very similar and yet so diverse”.

Khwezi (22)

Growing up in many different environments, moving from one place to another was common during Khwezi’s childhood.

He says his family only found stability and a home in 2006, in Vosloorus, where they currently reside.

Much of this affected his personality, making him feel shy and isolated resulting in what he says was a late adaptation to social life and being able to hold conversations with strangers, having emotions, speech reflexes, etc.

“This is why, for me, in Bootcamp, the most defining moments were getting to know the people I work with and working as teams. I have always been a terrible team player, but sharing the stories and situations with my fellow Bootcampers really opened my eyes,” Khwezi says.

“Its amazing what one can learn once they take off their earphones, get off their phones and interact with people. I am currently trying to practice this way of life outside of Bootcamp now. Interacting and connecting with the people. Honestly you’d be shocked at how much you can learn just from a simple conversation with the stranger down the street which you formed an opinion on.”

Jessica (23)

“Growing up I enjoyed solving problems. No matter how difficult they seemed, I would solve them. My friends would at times find me playing one game for hours, just to get it right,” explains Jessica, who hails from the township of Tshepisong.

“The day I set my eyes on the screen to write the first WeThinkCode_ test, I was amazed to see the complexity of the puzzles I had to solve. I had a smile though because I could tell that this was just another problem I needed to solve and I loved it,” she adds.

“The brain is really flexible, don’t be afraid to explore something new in your life. At WeThinkCode_ you are given the chance to let your brain explore and absorb as much information you need to be the best coder you can be.”

Gabriel (24)

Gabriel studied a BSc IS at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and has always been a hands-on type of learner.

He’s always had a love for coding, but battled with keeping up with the electives. In his third year in university in 2014, Gabriel failed to pass and was not allowed back into the course. He then chose the UNISA route, but that also did not work out for him.

“When I heard about WeThinkCode_ it was clear this program was for me: all practical, no theory and a peer to peer learning system,” he says.

“The Bootcamp was an experience like no other. I set goals to work at least 10 hours each day and to push myself all the time. The vast amount of work covered took me by surprise.”

Over the course of the four weeks, we covered my entire first year and half of my second year of university programming. There was not one day when I felt I could slack off.”

If you missed out on last year’s applications or want to try your luck again, you can apply online for WeThinkCode_’s 2017 programme.