My Journey: How to Start Learning to Code for Free in South Africa

As I'm writing this in the early hours of Wednesday, October 8th, 2025, from my home, I'm thinking about how many young people feel stuck, believing that a career in tech is out of reach without expensive degrees. I felt that way too. But the truth is, the door is already open. Here is the path I took and the free resources I used to learn to code and start a career in technology.

1. Start with the Basics: freeCodeCamp

This is where it all began for me. freeCodeCamp is a non-profit organization that offers thousands of hours of free, interactive coding lessons. Start with their "Responsive Web Design" certification. It will guide you through HTML, CSS, and Flexbox, and you'll build real projects to solidify your skills. It's the best foundation you can get.

2. Understand the "Why": YouTube University

Sometimes you need to hear a concept explained in a different way. YouTube is an incredible resource. Channels like Traversy Media, The Net Ninja, and Web Dev Simplified were my digital mentors. Use them to supplement your learning when you get stuck on a topic.

3. Build, Build, Build: Your Portfolio is Everything

You can do tutorials forever, but you only truly learn when you build something on your own. Start small. Build a simple tribute page. Then a basic calculator. Then a clone of a website you like. The projects you see on this website's "Our Work" page started as simple practice projects. Your goal isn't just to learn code; it's to have proof that you can use it.

4. Embrace Community and Stay Curious

You are not alone on this journey. Join online communities on platforms like Stack Overflow or local developer groups on Facebook. Ask questions. The biggest skill a developer has is not knowing all the answers, but knowing how to find them.

The only thing stopping you is the belief that you can't. The resources are there. The opportunity is waiting. Start today.