Code Your Future! A View Behind The Scenes

Introducing Team SASA! Four coders from Code Your Future talk to us about their experience working on our new online exhibition ‘Over-the-Line’

How did you get into coding?

Alexandru: Back in Romania I was an actor. I was in an organisation called the actors guild and they needed a website so said okay, I am going to do it, so I managed to do it, my first website and this is how I started.

Serkan: I am coming from a totally different background, I had no experience with coding before, but when I came to the UK I was searching for some new career opportunities. I started myself, with some online training, but then I met Code Your Future and thought that this was a good opportunity for me and to start a new career. I am totally sure now that I love coding. 

Alexey: In my case, when we had a baby three years ago, we decided to take shared parental leave. And when I spent a year with the baby at home I decided to learn something new, and I decided to try coding and then I found Code Your Future and I’m pretty sure I am good at it, and I enjoy it. 

Sonjide: I actually had no coding background, the only thing I knew about coding was from Matrix movies, and it's not true. Nothing on the Matrix movie is true! Coding is hard work and there are a lot of things you need to learn. I’m actually an accounting graduate, of all things! And this is where I am now. I’m a newbie! I’m like the ant man in the avengers that is joining the team. 

What does Code Your Future do?

Alexey: This is a bootcamp. Basically they teach us from scratch the coding, the whole front end and back end course. They provide lessons, they give you homework, we work in groups, we get goals during the week, and in the end you get a real project which we can share, and we can try to find a job using this project.

Serkan: They are helping with every aspect of your life. With personal development, with preparing Cv’s, preparing for interviews,and getting jobs. And they continue to support us after the project ends.

What did you enjoy working on this project?

Serkan: It was a good practice to implement all we have learned during the course. And we needed to learn more things that we didn’t cover during the course. So we implemented new technologies in this project. It helped us to get to know each other more closely. We are not only students, but friends now. This gave us an opportunity to pay back Code Your Future. And we also helped young refugee artists. I’m really proud of using coding to help people. 

Alexandru: When I first heard we are going to make an app for actors, I was so proud. I thought maybe I would write code in another way. For me this is the first time working with a real client. I’m happy that I can see how things are working in the real world.

Alexey: We enjoyed the teamwork, the whole process. I didn’t expect it to be so good. All the coding was productive, all the time we spent was useful, all the calls were really nice.

Sonjide: We were able to help these young artists, young refugees to tell their stories. The app is so simple. And because it's so simple there was a lot of hard work that no one appreciates! We love that the artists like what they see, the good feedback. We hope the website comes across as easy to use, and it tells the stories of everyone and the user has that emotional connection. 

 What was challenging about the project?

Alexey: Everyday calls! Sometimes it was a bit tough! Even if you were busy and tired, you still need to be there. Every day - monday to friday we had one hour calls, to discuss, the next step, next feedback, next iteration, next solution. Everyday we keep continuing to work together, to be connected and that was why everything was so smooth. But it was tough, because we all have other jobs.

Sonjide: Remember the bug! When we started coding everything looked good on your computer, as soon as you put it online, all these problems came. 

Alexey: When it gets responsive, you have to test it on every device. It's challenging to make it look good on every device. 

What are your plans for the future?

Alexey: To get a job! Web development is such a huge work. You could be anyone, you could be a project manager, developer, go into testing the code, designing, user experience. I would like to try working with mobile apps. But you need to learn a different language for that!

Alexandru: Basically the same. To get a job!

Sonjide: Each of the team is looking for software development roles, I think I’m heading in a different direction, which is doing more projects like this - working with a client. For me, its a diversion, project management is the direction I’m taking. 

Serkan: I’m already working in the IT sector, but I would like to have a career in web development. I love what i’m doing, what I’m learning. I would love to do this as a professional job.

Why is it important these young refugee voices are heard?

Sonjide: I’m not from here. And having these stories told reminds me of the loss of moving from one place to another, and to feel part of a story, part of a community. It's important these stories are told. People need to know more about the emotional journey of coming from one country  to another and trying to settle in.

Alexey: The whole situation is not easy for all of us. It's good to help others go through it.

Serkan: I’m coming from the same background. I am a refugee in the UK. I know how they are feeling at the moment. This is a good opportunity to help these people. I know how hard it is to be an asylum seeker, leaving your country, coming to a new country and starting a new life. It was not only a professional project for me, I was helping people. 

Alexandru: We are all coming from another country. You need to find a place to belong. We found Code Your Future. I belong to a community. It gives your confidence. They are artists. They need to express themselves. They need to tell people who they are. 

Any other comments?

Alexey: We can guarantee you there are no bugs! We finished it calmly and confidently. It works perfectly. We are proud to share it!

Serkan: To the young artists: I would like to say - they are young They are energetic. They have everything, they just need to believe in themselves. They have you - they have Compass collective - they are not alone. They are just starting their journey. They can manage everything in this new country.