Progate Code Community in Zambia - @ Cavendish University
Tags: progate, meetups, code, community
Published: 2022-01-15 20:46:21

So, here is a question; What if I was to tell you that you can learn to write code just like you learn how to play a game?

I am sure we all know how easy it is to tap into those word games right? Now, imagine yourself learning how to code and build software just by playing games :-) or atleast something close to it 🙈 ! 

```javascript
 < Welcome to Progate everybody :-) />
```


## 🙅🏽‍♂️ Hold on a second, Intros First 👀  👋🏽 
 _Oh - sorry , almost forgot😄. Let's do the needful, shall we?_ 🤗

![Magic introduction gif](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/55pmkn5lmx5l17bprmwk.gif)
> My names are [***Blessed Jason Mwanza***](https://github.com/blessedjasonmwanza), a full-stack software developer, love to build viable tech stuff, and currently a student at [Microverse](https://www.microverse.org/?grsf=kvpb2j) online coding school. And today, you and I together, we'll discover amazing ways to learning what I love to do 🤓. Let's jump right into :-) !




## 🕺🏽 < The Awesome Experience /> 🚀 
<center>
> <small>a little story, I promise<small>
</center>

<p>
12th April 2019 was that amazing day when I was given an opportunity to share some insights about Progate and how this great platform has been helping; those transition into tech careers, self-taught and self-driven developers get the best skills that are expected of them to have from the current agile centered tech industries, companies alike, and the future of work.
</p>

Wow! Awesome….! But, wait a second...

## What Is Progate? 🤔 

![About Progate](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/80socj98to9ywx74tqqd.png)

<center>
<em>
> [Progate](https://progate.com/) is an online platform that helps you learn programming with ease and fun experience.
</em>
</center>

Here is a short official description, and the benefits it provides. it goes...
> We wanted to create a service to allow even complete beginners to learn without frustration so we started [Progate](https://progate.com/).
> Many people want to start programming, but don’t know how or where to start.
So they get stuck before they even begin.
Our goal is to solve this problem by making the world’s best service for learning to code and delivering it to beginners all over the world.


That’s it! The above statements clearly describe what Progate is all about. Now its time for some fun right 😊 ? Kindly join me and the Cavendish University students to know more on how we spent our time enjoying learning via Progate.

## 🏡  The Environment and Experience

It's Friday! Cool weather 🌤️ , bright minds 🤓, teenagers, tech-preneurs, dreamers & enthusiasts, innovators, Data Science experts…. Woops! Do you want more? We had 
[Pendo Manjele](https://twitter.com/Upendo_Manjele) 👩🏽‍💻  and the ladies in the house! 🥳 🎆 


![Pendo Giving a talk at Cavendish Progate Meetup](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/u5qnqxiq494vo35wj5gu.jpeg)

Cool...😎  yes, I know 😉 . And we was all set for the new journey - “**To find a perfect platform to aid them, you & I, in getting the right skill in a perfect, simple & intuitive way.**”

> One thing I noticed that impressed me seeing amongst the upcoming developers, was their thirst and enthusiasm towards the idea of **solving problems using software**. So did the bulb in my mind click 💡 - With this kind of sudo fire and a blaze burning in every youth, we’re assured of having a brighter future as a country. Installed with minds ready willing to take up the responsibility of developing and upgrading the nation through tech, the repo effect will definetely spread through to the world.




On the other pane of observations, one bug which seemed to have no solution stood between people’s ideas and solutions awaiting implementations….


> With all these resources and platforms providing coding & programming lessons, of which we can’t seem to link together when We're trying to build up a full product and/or finished idea of what we want, how on this planet are we ever going to create our viable innovations?


That was the main bug! Tutorials that provide learners with no practical solutions.

Guess what! Boom! That's where Progate comes in - you’ll surely come and thank me later on this one believe 😉.

## Okay, amazing. But, Why Progate? 🤔 

<center>
<small> I figured someone 👀 might be asking…</small>
</center>

In addition to more limitless benefits here is a short tabulated list:

- ### Free Advanced Compiler and IDE
> Wow! Yes, that means no need of you downloading any software - just use your browser. Progate provides you with a full coding environment to apply your knowledge.

- ### Gamification
 > Yes, the cool part i know 😎. This is not only the best feature for schools - but the slides and gamification also make it the easiest platform ever to teach and learn coding and programming.

- ### Learn by Doing 👨🏽‍💻 👩🏽‍💻 
Another vital and important feature that Progate provides is the “learn by doing” component. This comes packed with short and yet, valuable lessons to learn “real” coding from scratch!

## How do I get started? 🤩 
Don’t worry, if you’re in Zambia, you can join the journey [right here](http://bit.ly/progateZambia), otherwise, visit progate.com the official site to get started. Hey! Don’t forget to join [Progate Developers slack channel](http://bit.ly/prograteslack) - here providing you with access to various opportunities and job offers.

## What's Next? 🚀  🌍 
Well, other than meetups, we have taken an extra step in having weekly meetups at the Cavendish University. We managed this with extra support from local communities, developers, and Progate, in helping facilitate ‘peer to peer’ coding sessions using Progate. This is to enable developers to easily consult and extend their knowledge base from each other.

> Some takeaway snacks!

```javascript < Learn to Code, Learn to be Creative /> ```

Thanks for learning and reading with me, you're awesome!  🙌🙌. Kindly feel free to share and give this article some claps 🙌🙌 by bookmarking and liking it 😉. 

> One last thing, Let's get chatting & sharing, you can find me on: [Github](https://github.com/blessedjasonmwanza), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mwanza), [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/blessedjasonmwanza)