Template letter for finding mentors/volunteers - general

It is important for champions to gather a team of volunteers for their Dojo, particularly volunteers who can act as mentors and who can share their tech knowledge with the Ninjas. We normally recommend a ratio of one mentor to ten youths, however, this is dependant on the style you wish to adopt in your Dojo. Having a team of mentors helps to share the workload and ensures that there is a mix of skills and knowledge within each Dojo. Please see our article on Finding Mentors and Volunteers for more information on how to source people in your community who may wish to become involved in their local Dojo.

Once you have a person or a group of people in mind, you may like to give them the template letter shown below. It includes a basic introduction to the CoderDojo movement and outlines how the recipient can get involved in mentoring at your Dojo. The letter is mainly aimed towards university students and tech professionals, but can be addressed to whichever group you feel is suitable. You may also edit the letter as you see fit.

Subject: Become a mentor at CoderDojo

Hi [Recipient name],

[Champion name] here, I have recently started a new coding club (Dojo) for young people in our community, as part of the CoderDojo movement.

What is CoderDojo?

CoderDojo is a global, volunteer-led movement of free computer clubs for young people aged 7–17, and there are hundreds of Dojos in countries all over the world. At a Dojo, young people explore technology and learn how to code while developing websites, apps, programs, and games using Scratch, HTML, JavaScript, Python, and more! CoderDojo gives the young people confidence, new friends, and valuable skills for the future, and it can open up brand-new avenues for children who might not otherwise have such opportunities. You can read more on the CoderDojo website here.

How to get involved

We want to bring coding education to more young people locally. To become involved, you can volunteer as a mentor at our new Dojo [link to Dojo homepage]. We would love for you to share your knowledge with our Ninjas, no matter what your background and skill level! Kids usually begin by making simple games with Scratch and progress to making websites with HTML, and there is plenty of room for creativity and new and exciting projects.

This video details the aspects of mentoring at CoderDojo: dojo.soy/letter-mentor-vid

If you would like to become a mentor at our Dojo, contact us at [Dojo email address].

Please note: It is best practice that all CoderDojo volunteers and Mentors undergo a vetting background check. This can be done via the Dojo’s local volunteer centre. More information can be found here: kata.coderdojo.com/wiki/Child_Protection_and_Background_Checking

Kind regards,

[Champion name]