This project empowers children from refugee, migrant, and remote communities with essential STEM skills, focusing on coding, digital literacy, and online safety. Through engaging workshops, mentorship, and gamified learning, Bush Bytes & Brilliant Minds helps CALD and First Nations children build confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking—tools they need to succeed in a digital future. Delivered ...
Bhuminanda Dhaulidevi Foundation
Bush Bytes & Brilliant Minds: Kids Coding the Future
GOAL
$20,000
Australia > National / Multi-state > Metro and Regional
Field of Interest
- Education/training and employment
- Social inclusion and justice
Target Population
- Asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and people from CALD backgrounds
- People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
Bhuminanda Dhaulidevi Foundation
The Bhuminanda Dhaulidevi Foundation (BnD Foundation) is a registered Australian Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) with DGR1 status, committed to creating opportunities for disadvantaged children and communities through education, digital inclusion, health, and wellbeing initiatives.
Founded in 2024 in honour of the late Bhuminanda Timilsena and 92-year-old Dhaulidevi Timilsena—whose lives were shaped by hardship, resilience, and a belief in education—the Foundation works with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities across Australia and remote regions of Nepal. Our vision is to empower every child with access to quality education and wellbeing support, regardless of their socio-economic background. Our mission is to foster inclusive, healthy, and informed communities through grassroots programs in literacy, numeracy, mental health, and community development.
We address the growing gaps in numeracy, digital literacy, and educational equity—especially among refugee, migrant, and regional children—by offering mentoring, tutoring, STEM workshops, and digital safety training. We are uniquely positioned to do this work through our strong volunteer base, community partnerships (including MCNT, Smart Health Global, and local schools), and culturally responsive program delivery.
Current priorities include:
Maths mentoring and STEM education for CALD children
Digital safety and literacy programs
Funding will help us expand our reach, deliver culturally safe and high-impact learning programs, and engage local mentors to guide the next generation. In 2025 alone, we aim to support over 300 children across three Australian states and five districts of Nepal.
Project Summary
This project empowers children from refugee, migrant, and remote communities with essential STEM skills, focusing on coding, digital literacy, and online safety. Through engaging workshops, mentorship, and gamified learning, Bush Bytes & Brilliant Minds helps CALD and First Nations children build confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking—tools they need to succeed in a digital future.
Delivered in partnership with local schools and community organisations across regional Victoria and the Northern Territory, the project bridges educational gaps by making technology learning inclusive, accessible, and culturally safe. Volunteer mentors from STEM backgrounds work with learners aged 8–14 to spark early interest in science and technology.
In 2025, the program aims to directly reach over 300 students through school-based workshops and community events, with lasting impact measured through pre- and post-program assessments and family feedback.
This initiative aligns with Bhuminanda Dhaulidevi Foundation’s broader mission of educational equity and digital inclusion—and is an excellent example of how we combine grassroots engagement with transformative learning experiences.
Project Outcomes
Through our project “Bush Bytes & Brilliant Minds: Kids Coding the Future”, we aim to inspire and empower culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children in regional Northern Territory, particularly those from African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian backgrounds, by enhancing their digital literacy, coding skills, and interest in STEAM education. By blending fun, hands-on coding workshops with real-world problem solving, we will create a safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive environment for children to thrive.
Our expected outcomes include:
- Increased confidence and participation of over 100 CALD children in coding and digital technology
- Improved foundational digital skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities
- Strengthened community engagement and parental involvement in children’s learning
- Encouragement of future STEAM aspirations among participants
We will evaluate our success through a combination of pre- and post-program surveys, participant feedback, mentor assessments, and attendance records. Improvements in participants’ digital confidence, engagement levels, and interest in STEAM pathways will serve as key indicators. Additionally, the success of our culturally tailored approach will be gauged by increased parental participation and community support.
By igniting curiosity and building resilience through technology, we aim to close the digital divide and plant seeds of aspiration for a more equitable future in STEAM, one child at a time.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $20,000
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Funding Gap | $20,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Project costs | $20,000 |
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