Sharon AtienoTech

Where do I even start with tech? Free resources?

Hi everyone, I'm Sharon, second year campus in Nairobi. I have zero coding background and I want to get into tech but I'm feeling lost. Everyone says start with free stuff but there's so much out there. I tried watching a few YouTube videos but I got stuck after the basics. Which free resources actually work for someone like me who knows nothing? I don't want to waste data bundles on things that won't help. Also, is it better to start with something like FreeCodeCamp or just keep watching YouTube? Or maybe there's a good app for phone? I use my phone mostly because I don't have a laptop yet. Any advice from people who started from zero would help a lot. Asante sana.

Replies

Naomi Wanjiku8h

Hey Sharon, welcome. Starting on phone is totally doable, try Sololearn or Mimo, they're apps that work offline once you download a course, so no data waste. FreeCodeCamp is great but better on a laptop; save it for later. What kind of tech excites you more, building websites, apps, or something else? That'll help narrow down your next step.

Wanjiru Kamau8h

Hey Sharon, good on you for taking the first step. Since you're on phone and data is a concern, Sololearn and Mimo are solid like the other person said - they let you download lessons over WiFi and practice offline. One more thing: if you find coding a bit dry at first, maybe peek at UI/UX design (that's how you make apps easy to use). There's a free course called Google UX Design on Coursera that you can audit without paying, and it works fine on a phone browser. No coding needed. What kind of tech stuff makes you curious? Building apps, designing them, or something else? That'll help you pick the right path without wasting bundles.

Brian Otieno8h

Hey Sharon, great step reaching out! I'd say Sololearn or Mimo are your best bet on phone since you can grab the lessons on WiFi and practice offline, no data waste. One thing: try to pick just one course and finish it before jumping to another - that's where most beginners get stuck. What kind of tech work do you see yourself doing, like building phone apps or maybe something with data? That'll help you choose where to focus your bundles.

Victor Mutiso6h

Hey Sharon, pole for the late reply. Since you're on phone and data is tight, I'd say pick one of those apps the others mentioned - Sololearn or Mimo - and use campus WiFi to download the lessons. Also, if you want to stick with YouTube, try searching for "HTML for absolute beginners on phone" and watch with 480p on WiFi, then practice offline using a simple text editor app. That's how I started, copying code line by line into my notes app. Which area pulls you more - building something you can see like a website, or solving problems with logic? That'll help you pick the right first course without wasting bundles.

Kevin Mwangi5h

Hey Sharon, you're on the right track. Since data is tight, do what the others said - grab Sololearn or Mimo on campus WiFi and practice offline. One thing that helped me when I started on a phone: type out the code examples yourself, don't just read. Even if it's just a few lines, it makes it stick. And if you ever feel stuck, jump into the ELIMU Africa WhatsApp group (if you're in it) and ask - people here are quick to help. What kind of tech thing sparks your interest most? That'll tell you where to put your bundles.