Local families celebrate spooky launch party at Putney Library
On Saturday 30th October, families from across Southwest London came together to celebrate a spooky spectacular party at Code Ninjas – a brand-new kids coding studio that has opened at Putney Library. Launched by Sangita and Alok Pandey, the new venture is a real family affair, with daughter Shivantika running operations as the coding studio manager. The community-focused business owners were determined to make it a day to remember for video-game loving kids in their community.
“The event went amazingly well. We had a great turnout and the kids all had a brilliant time, completing our Halloween-themed challenges and taking part in our spooky games,” explained Shivantika. “After such a positive reaction, I’m so excited for what the future has in store. We want to thank all of the wonderful families and friends who popped in to wish us well – despite the awful weather! We’re over the moon with the incredible feedback we’ve received and are all so proud that we’re able to bring the community together at this central hub. The library is at the heart of Putney so we’re very excited that we’re located here.”
Shivantika, Sangita and Alok welcomed children and their parents from across Putney and the surrounding areas to a Halloween-themed party, ensuring social distancing was adhered to by managing bookings throughout the day. The afternoon of free events offered budding coders the chance to try out the programme.
“We’ve combined our experience in media liaison, business operations, finance and diversity to launch our coding studio as a family. Equipping children with the skills needed to excel in a digital world is something all three of us are so passionate about – my parents set me up with the best start in life and that’s something they’re keen to share with children across our region. The team at the library have been so welcoming and are really pleased to see our complementary curriculum being delivered from their facility. It’s great to see them diversify, offering kids living locally the chance to explore a hobby that isn’t linked to the standard after-school activities. We hope that our programme will help students, and all other local children aged 5-14, develop their love of gaming and tech,” added Shivantika.
“At Code Ninjas, we want our kids to develop a real passion for technology, so while the programme is loads of fun, it is also very educational. They are learning the language of the future – we want to give kids a gift that lasts a lifetime. I’ve worked in the technology sector for a number of years and so truly believe that technological education is the future. Learning about computers at such a young age is crucial because it helps build the vital foundations for future success,” explained Sangita.
Shivantika, Sangita and Alok have been overwhelmed by the positive response from kids and parents alike. One budding ninja – the name given to students – left a note for the Code Ninjas team on her way out of the door, simply saying, “I loved how you could learn and play at the same time.” For Shivantika and her parents, this is the resounding review that they were hoping for.
To sign up or find out more about Code Ninjas, visit: www.codeninjas.co.uk/putney-ldn-uk