monthly impact report
january
In the Loop
I have just started my journey at uncommon.org, an organization that equips youth and young adults with valuable tech skills. At Uncommon, we were introduced to Scratch, a simplified platform for developing games. We were taught how to develop 2D games, which we then teach to students from different schools. This collaboration has been incredibly beneficial to me, strengthening my programming skills, boosting my confidence, and enhancing my ability to explain technical concepts clearly.
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Cheers to uncommon.org for this new journey. in January I spent time learning Scratch and exploring how to design simple games. What made the month exciting was playing Ikaruga, which inspired me with its polarity-switching mechanics. I enjoyed experimenting in Scratch with sprite logic, collision detection, and costume changes, trying to recreate similar ideas in a simpler way. I discovered that even complex mechanics can be broken down into small steps, which made coding easier to understand.
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Currently working at KANDA SOLAR in Sales & Digital Marketing, where I’ve been applying real-world skills to drive visibility, leads, and conversions in the renewable energy space. Thanks to the practical training and exposure from Uncommon.org, I’ve been able to build and manage strong, user-friendly UI/UX experiences that attract and retain customers and apply digital marketing strategies that support sales growth.
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by the numbers
Enrolled Bootcamp Students
Total number of students actively enrolled in our full-time bootcamp nationwide in 2026.
Youth Students Taught
Total number of youth taught in our after school and outreach programs in January.
Total Teachers Trained
Total number of teachers trained in our Teacher Training Program Year to Date.
Total YTD Beneficiaries
Total number of people reached across all of our programs, YTD.
scenes from the hillcrest college youth coding outreach
We visited Hillcrest College where Lower 6 and Form 2 students started their coding journey on our Uncommon Playground, dragging and dropping colorful blocks in Scratch to create their first games. Then came the leap - transitioning to WoofJS, where those visual blocks transformed into actual lines of code.
We taught students that AI is a brilliant assistant-helpful for planning, learning, and solving problems faster. But we were clear: AI is the co-pilot, not the pilot. The ideas, the creativity, the vision? That must always come from them.
partner spotlight
PARTNER
Nedbank Zimbabwe
Nedbank Zimbabwe has been a key partner in our mission to empower young Zimbabweans through technology education. As the proud sponsor of our Bulawayo Innovation Hub, they are investing in more than infrastructure, they are investing in Zimbabwe's future. Their commitment to youth development and digital skills training is helping us build the next generation of tech talent that will drive our country forward.
Thank you Nedbank Zimbabwe
Partner With Us
letter from the Country Director
As we welcome a new cohort of students to Uncommon, we're reminded that your support makes moments like this possible. Each new bootcamp represents emerging talent and real progress toward giving more young Zimbabweans access to quality tech education.
Our focus for 2026 centers on three priorities:
- Sustainability & Scale - Building more hubs and creating a financial foundation that allows us to grow responsibly.
- Program Quality & Data - Tracking what works so we can prove our impact for youth, teachers, and young adults.
- Growth & Expansion - Reaching more communities while helping students not just learn to code, but solve real problems and launch their own ventures.
Thank you for partnering with us to turn aspirations into real results. Together, we're ensuring that our growth is intentional, our impact is measurable, and our work is built to last.
With love
Michelle Gwatiringa
thank you for reading
For partnership inquiries: partnerships@uncommon.org
For press inquiries: hello@uncommon.org
For program inquiries: programs@uncommon.org
