iStore Maponya Mall hosted its annual Holiday Coding Camp last week from 7 to 9 July 2025, giving young people from Soweto the opportunity to explore the world of coding and robotics. Over three days, nearly 60 learners participated in hands-on sessions designed to equip them with vital digital skills for the future.
Now in its second year, the iStore Holiday Coding Camp forms part of iStore’s commitment to making the world’s best technology more accessible by investing in education and skills development. The sessions were facilitated by a team of iStore Education Programme Facilitators with a range of experience and skills across education, software development, and data analytics. They ensured that each participant was inspired and received a tailored mentoring experience.
“When we decided to build a store in Maponya Mall, our vision was bigger than retail. We wanted to give back to the community and be part of shaping a generation equipped for the technology space,” says Chris Dodd, iStore Chief Executive Officer.
Phindile Radebe, iStore Regional Manager, added to these sentiments: “It’s been incredible to see how learners have embraced coding and robotics, especially as these skills are not yet part of their school curriculum. The excitement and engagement from both children and parents confirm the need for more initiatives like this in Soweto.”
A parent shared their appreciation for the camps, saying: “Thank you so much for bringing opportunities that open doors for kids in Soweto – we truly appreciate you.”
The iStore Coding Camps empower children to design, code, and create using Apple’s Swift coding language—the same language used by top developers to create some of the world’s most loved apps.
iStore Maponya Mall and iStore Education look forward to continuing to grow this initiative and inspiring more young people in Soweto to explore careers in technology.
Soweto Sunrise News
