Raptors All-Star Pascal Siakam Gives Back to Community on his Birthday

Toronto Raptors All-Star Pascal Siakam celebrated his 27th birthday by giving back.

On Friday, Siakam and his PS43 Foundation announced the launch of Coding for Champions, a coding program for kids in Toronto.

Per release, sixty kids from Toronto’s Queen Victoria Public School and Parkdale Jr. and Sr. Public School will receive a laptop, backpack, hoodie, and a number of other supplies. With an emphasis on education, the program aims to introduce children to the world of coding and help develop important life skills. The 10 week program will run from April up until June 2021.

Pascal Siakam’s new organization, the PS43 Foundation Canada and Penny Appeal Canada have launched a coding program for kids in Toronto. 60 students from Grade 6-8 at Queen Victoria and Parkdale Jr. & Sr. Public Schools will participate from April-Junehttps://t.co/1IlOmkZTMQ pic.twitter.com/brvRfcB3RU

— K. Derick Deon. (@KDDeon) April 2, 2021

“As a child, I didn’t think I could accomplish what I have today,” said Siakam. “My father was passionate about education and my parents put me in positions to be successful by providing me access to education and sport in my home country of Cameroon; a place where such opportunities are limited and hard to come by. I want to do the same for kids in Toronto and encourage them to dream big no matter what limits they face.”

We can bet that this will not be the last time that Siakam uses his foundation to help the youth. The organization’s mission is very clear and looks to “empower children through education, life skills and mentorship while inspiring them to set any goal despite where their journey may begin or what societal impediments they may face.”

Coding and programming is a skill that is very quickly becoming a requirement across various fields of work. The ability to begin developing such skills from a young age will help everyone of these sixty kids to prepare for life after school.

Well done, Pascal!