Inspiring Young Minds: EU Code Week Small Grants Nordic Winners Announced
01/04/26
The first winners of the EU Code Week Small Grants for Grassroots in Coding in the Nordic region have been officially announced, bringing fresh inspiration, creativity and innovation to classrooms and communities across Europe.
Led by the European Centre for Women and Technology (ECWT), the Nordic Regional Hub has selected three outstanding projects that showcase the power of grassroots initiatives to make coding and digital skills more accessible, engaging and inclusive.
A new initiative to grow digital skills across Europe
The EU Code Week Small Grants programme is designed to support local initiatives that promote coding, computational thinking and digital creativity, particularly among young people. With a strong focus on inclusion, the programme aims to inspire more girls and boys to explore STEM and STEAM pathways and consider future careers in digital.
The Nordic call, open from 7 November 2025 to 12 January 2026, attracted highly competitive applications from across all five Nordic countries. Following a rigorous evaluation process assessing feasibility, impact, scalability and innovation, three projects stood out.
1st Place: Niilo Napakettu (Nilo the Snowfox)
Led by leading teacher Jaana Hekkanen and the Napakettu Team at Hiukkavaara Comprehensive School in Oulu, Finland, this winning project brings coding to life through storytelling.
By introducing children to Nilo the Snowfox, a much-loved character, the project blends narrative and coding to spark curiosity and creativity among pre-primary and primary learners. Children engage in problem-solving and logical thinking while immersing themselves in imaginative stories, making coding both accessible and enjoyable from an early age.
This approach demonstrates how story-based learning can transform coding education into something meaningful, memorable and fun.
2nd Place: Mother & Daughter Evening on Artificial Intelligence
Organised by High5Girls and led by Marianne Andersen in Frederiksberg/Copenhagen, Denmark, this initiative takes a unique and powerful approach by engaging not just girls, but also their mothers.
Recognising the important role parents play in shaping educational choices, the project creates a shared learning experience where families explore artificial intelligence together. Through hands-on activities and discussions, participants learn how AI works, while also addressing topics such as bias, stereotypes and career pathways.
By combining education with meaningful conversation and a touch of Danish hygge, this initiative helps build confidence, awareness and support systems for girls considering futures in tech.
3rd Place: CodeClub Online
Developed by leading teachers Anu Kahri and Hanne Ritala in Finland, CodeClub Online offers a flexible and scalable solution for coding education.
The project will deliver remote coding lessons for pupils aged 6 to 13, alongside ready-to-use teaching materials for educators. With a strong focus on creativity, students will develop their own projects while applying coding to real-world and imaginative scenarios.
Its modular design makes it easy to replicate across different countries and educational settings, supporting long-term impact within the EU Code Week community and encouraging stronger engagement with STEAM subjects.
What happens next?
All three projects will be implemented between 1 February and mid-May 2026, bringing their ideas to life in classrooms, communities and online spaces.
These initiatives highlight the strength of grassroots innovation, showing how creative, local approaches can drive meaningful change in digital education across Europe.
To follow the winning projects and learn more, visit the ECWT website
Get involved in EU Code Week
EU Code Week welcomes activities all year round. Whether you are a teacher, parent, student or organisation, you can organise your own activity and help inspire the next generation of digital creators.
Explore resources, ideas and upcoming opportunities on the Code Week website, and do not forget to register your activities to be part of the growing community.
