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Hi! We're CodeSwitch, Inc, the first full service, online and comprehensive 100% free coding boot camp. Our courses are designed and written for low income minority students, single parents and veterans.
Our Story
My name is Arielle, I'm the founder of CodeSwitch, Inc. My journey with coding began way back when in the days of angelfire and myspace. Just like many of you reading this, that was when I first discovered I have a knack for coding. Inspired by a young, successful, African American mother and coder, I decided it was time for me to learn how to code.
So I started doing my research and I found a few schools. But school after school I applied to, turned me down. Even though I scored well on prep- courses and exams, it came down to the fact that I could not afford the price tag to attend. The schools that were 100% free, were self lead and impossible to keep up with 3 kids and a full time job. The paid schools that offered free tuition up front, required a repayment of 18% of my first year's salary as a coder. The schools that offered scholarships, offered no more than half a percent, sometimes only a quarter of a percent of total tuition as a discount. I'm also the bread winner in my family, I knew that I couldn't afford to take off months at a time to attend an immersive boot camp. I was upset, disappointed and frustrated to say the least.
According to Are Coding Bootcamps only for the rich?, published by Prasid Pathak via TechCrunch , coding boot camps are a still a resource for the privileged. The author goes on to state, to attend a bootcamp, one would need at least $46k in savings just to mitigate the costs of quitting work, as well as, pay for the course and materials. A second study by goBankingRates stated the average American has less than$1000 in savings. I found these two articles sobering. With my current responsibilities, there was no way I could afford a boot camp without putting myself in debt. That's when I got mad, and THAT's when it hit me.
How many more people are in this situation? I asked myself. How many more students, mothers, fathers, veterans with the same amount of drive and dedication, are in this exact same position? Torn between wanting the best for their families and working a 9 - 5 job that was reliable, but unfulfilling.... How many smart, intelligent, ambitious students, parents and veterans are forced, everyday, to take what's available right now, simply because of lack of access to the tools to make themselves better?
CodeSwitch, Inc. was born in answer to those questions. I took my frustrations and put them to work, starting a non- profit organization, aimed at providing low-income minority students, single parents and veterans in the top 10% of their applicant pool, access to a 100% free, full service and comprehensive online coding boot camp.
Here's how you can help:
My program will provide, instruction, mentoring, access to tutors, as well as, career placement and counseling. We will bridge the gap in diversity, one graduate at a time. To answer the call of creating economic stability for our students, it is my goal to provide each current student with financial assistance, and each graduate with a voucher to purchase new equipment needed to continue their careers.
Your donated funds will go to making sure each student is given the skills needed to get a job as a full stack web developer. Our goal is to graduate 10 students from our first class starting June 19th, 2017. Stipends will be given to those students who make it through each level of evaluation, but will still have to choose between a job and attending the camp. Funds will also go to purchasing state of the art learning management systems, running our back of house operations, equipment vouchers and computer science courses for each student, at a local or online accredited school.
Our organization is pending 501(c)(3) status, and incorporated in the State of Florida as a non-profit organization. All your donations will be tax deductible and proof of incorporation with the state can be provided upon request.
Our website address is: www.codeswitch.org, if you or anyone you know would also be interested in attending one of our courses, please apply by visiting our Prospective Students page.
Our Story
My name is Arielle, I'm the founder of CodeSwitch, Inc. My journey with coding began way back when in the days of angelfire and myspace. Just like many of you reading this, that was when I first discovered I have a knack for coding. Inspired by a young, successful, African American mother and coder, I decided it was time for me to learn how to code.
So I started doing my research and I found a few schools. But school after school I applied to, turned me down. Even though I scored well on prep- courses and exams, it came down to the fact that I could not afford the price tag to attend. The schools that were 100% free, were self lead and impossible to keep up with 3 kids and a full time job. The paid schools that offered free tuition up front, required a repayment of 18% of my first year's salary as a coder. The schools that offered scholarships, offered no more than half a percent, sometimes only a quarter of a percent of total tuition as a discount. I'm also the bread winner in my family, I knew that I couldn't afford to take off months at a time to attend an immersive boot camp. I was upset, disappointed and frustrated to say the least.
According to Are Coding Bootcamps only for the rich?, published by Prasid Pathak via TechCrunch , coding boot camps are a still a resource for the privileged. The author goes on to state, to attend a bootcamp, one would need at least $46k in savings just to mitigate the costs of quitting work, as well as, pay for the course and materials. A second study by goBankingRates stated the average American has less than$1000 in savings. I found these two articles sobering. With my current responsibilities, there was no way I could afford a boot camp without putting myself in debt. That's when I got mad, and THAT's when it hit me.
How many more people are in this situation? I asked myself. How many more students, mothers, fathers, veterans with the same amount of drive and dedication, are in this exact same position? Torn between wanting the best for their families and working a 9 - 5 job that was reliable, but unfulfilling.... How many smart, intelligent, ambitious students, parents and veterans are forced, everyday, to take what's available right now, simply because of lack of access to the tools to make themselves better?
CodeSwitch, Inc. was born in answer to those questions. I took my frustrations and put them to work, starting a non- profit organization, aimed at providing low-income minority students, single parents and veterans in the top 10% of their applicant pool, access to a 100% free, full service and comprehensive online coding boot camp.
Here's how you can help:
My program will provide, instruction, mentoring, access to tutors, as well as, career placement and counseling. We will bridge the gap in diversity, one graduate at a time. To answer the call of creating economic stability for our students, it is my goal to provide each current student with financial assistance, and each graduate with a voucher to purchase new equipment needed to continue their careers.
Your donated funds will go to making sure each student is given the skills needed to get a job as a full stack web developer. Our goal is to graduate 10 students from our first class starting June 19th, 2017. Stipends will be given to those students who make it through each level of evaluation, but will still have to choose between a job and attending the camp. Funds will also go to purchasing state of the art learning management systems, running our back of house operations, equipment vouchers and computer science courses for each student, at a local or online accredited school.
Our organization is pending 501(c)(3) status, and incorporated in the State of Florida as a non-profit organization. All your donations will be tax deductible and proof of incorporation with the state can be provided upon request.
Our website address is: www.codeswitch.org, if you or anyone you know would also be interested in attending one of our courses, please apply by visiting our Prospective Students page.
Organizer
Arielle Rose
Organizer
Fort Lauderdale, FL
