Meet the members of the Sarigato Foundation – people full of incredible energy and a strong desire to support children and youth through the Hackers project. Sarigato is a foundation that has been supporting kids and young people from marginalized groups for years, helping them develop IT skills and gain competencies essential in today’s tech-driven world.  

At Ailleron, we believe in the power of education and the doors it opens to a better future. That’s why we decided to support young people in the Hackers community by giving them the opportunity to grow and acquire valuable skills for the job market. Thanks to the scholarship funded by Ailleron, young people can participate in programming classes, graphic design workshops, and tutoring in school subjects. The program also includes inspiring meetings with our specialists. This truly contributes to their development and success.  

Are you curious about what this project is really about and how it works? You’ll find out more in this interview – enjoy! 😊  

1 . Thanks for taking the time to talk and share your story. Let’s start at the beginning – how did the Sarigato Foundation start, and what inspired the Hackers project?  

Iwona Duda, President of the Sarigato Foundation: We started by organizing coding camps, but we quickly realized that the problem ran much deeper than we initially thought. We noticed that many children struggled with using even basic digital tools – things like searching for information online, verifying sources, using navigation tools, or reading maps. 

Just because today’s kids and teens spend a lot of time holding a phone or tablet doesn’t mean they actually have the tech skills they’ll need in school or in their future jobs. This is also reflected in research. According to the latest edition of the IT Fitness Test – a nationwide digital skills assessment organized by the Digital Poland Association – the digital competencies of Polish students are at a low level. 

We observe that in challenging and underprivileged environments, this issue tends to be even more complex. Although digital exclusion is usually associated with older people, it is clearly present among children and young people, too – especially those who don’t have adult support or opportunities to gain technological skills. Not all children get a fair shot when stepping into adult life. 

Through the Hackers project, we want to provide education for kids who face an uphill battle in life. Our program supports children in foster care, group homes, and community centers – young people who deal with a range of hardships every day, living in families affected by dysfunction, financial struggles, health issues, or other life challenges. 

We help the Hackers on their path to independence by supporting their education, expanding their skills, and encouraging them to explore their interests. We give their wings a boost – helping them grow, believe in themselves more, and “hack” a better future for themselves. We give them the fishing rod – then they catch the fish on their own by exploring different learning paths and participating in courses and workshops. 

That said, addressing digital exclusion often starts with something very basic: providing hardware where it’s missing – at home or in care facilities. That’s the first step to giving a child a real chance to learn regularly and explore the world of technology.  

2. What motivates you most to work at the foundation?  

Iwona Duda: We truly believe that what we do matters. We see the impact of our efforts. We feel that our work addresses a very real and important social issue – one that continues to evolve and demands constant attention. We launched the project in 2016 in just a few locations, and today the “Hackers” name is present across many places in Poland. That brings us a great deal of satisfaction. 

Every Hacker who joins us – their smile, the spark in their eyes when they achieve something meaningful, make academic progress, feel a sense of belonging in a group, or build a connection with a teacher or mentor – gives us joy. We’re also there for them during the more challenging times because things aren’t always smooth. There are moments of self-doubt, discouragement, or even thoughts of giving up. We keep fighting for these kids – relentlessly – even though it’s not always an easy fight. 

3. It’s wonderful to hear that you’re investing in young people and giving them a chance to grow. What skills and values do you want to pass on to them? 

Aleksandra Mieczkowska, Hackers Project Coordinator: We focus on future-ready skills – not just digital competencies but also social abilities. We design our classes so that while children are learning about technology, they’re also developing communication skills, teamwork, creativity, analytical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. 

What’s important is that the Hackers have a choice. We don’t impose anything – they get to decide which classes they want to attend. We support kids who’ve been with us for years and have followed diverse learning paths: some may have started with English or math tutoring, then moved on to graphic design classes, and eventually began exploring programming and AI-related topics. 

Of course, technical and soft skills are important, but the values we try to pass on are even more essential. Curiosity, openness, perseverance, a desire to grow, belief in their own abilities, a sense of agency and impact – along with the courage to try, the resilience to learn from mistakes (which are essential for growth!), and the ability to draw lessons from them – these are all incredibly important from our perspective. These are the values we want to share with the Hackers so they can discover and nurture them within themselves. 

Our classes follow a modern educational approach. We aim to make learning as hands-on as possible – encouraging kids to be explorers, discoverers, and experimenters. 

4. Even though the world is moving forward so quickly, there are still children who are digitally excluded and have limited access to new technologies. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges children and youth face when it comes to digital education?  

Aleksandra Mieczkowska: I’ll start with a bit of a twist – not with the challenges children face, but the ones adults do. Keeping up with a rapidly changing reality has become incredibly difficult. Adults are constantly out of breath – there’s so much innovation and opportunity, but also many risks, which are often hard to identify. That’s why ongoing (self-)education is so important.  

The concept of lifelong learning fits perfectly into the realm of digital education. Raising awareness across society is key, as it makes it easier for children to face ever-evolving challenges. It’s our approach as adults – parents, guardians, mentors – that determines how young people will manage in the tech-driven world. Protecting children, educating them, and ensuring their safety – these are areas that need special care in the digital realities. 

Providing access to equipment has become a slightly smaller issue today, although there are still many places lacking the necessary tools. Since the beginning of our project, we’ve donated over 2,000 devices to families and institutions, but the number of those in need is much higher. Digital exclusion today is less about missing hardware and more about the absence of wise, mature adult support – someone who guides learning fosters the development of useful digital skills and helps navigate the vast and complex world of technology. 

Digital exclusion also has social and psychological dimensions. Children who aren’t fluent in using digital tools often feel inferior to their peers. We live in times when the type of smartphone you own can determine whether you’re accepted by a peer group. That’s why digitally excluded children frequently face online hate and real-world social exclusion. 

5. What does the participation of the children in the Hackers program look like? What type of help do they receive? 

Iwona Duda: We provide computers for remote learning to students who are digitally excluded. We organize tutoring sessions and help them catch up on schoolwork, run courses on new technologies, offer mentorship, and support Hackers in their search for their first internship or job. We really want the Hackers to stay with us for a longer period. This isn’t a project focused on one-time, flashy workshops, but a whole journey – where we accompany the children so that with a very concrete and valuable “backpack,” they can later continue their path. Regularity, consistency, and long-term commitment are very important here. 

6. Over 3000 Hackers have benefited from the program, showing that the group in need of help is significant. What changes do you notice in the children’s attitudes and their future, thanks to their participation in the program? 

Aleksandra Mieczkowska: I could talk for a long time about the great successes of our beneficiaries – how they get into prestigious technical universities and how they carry out their first “serious” IT projects. 

However, I want to emphasize one hugely important thing for us, which is visible not in those big, media-covered successes but in ordinary everyday life. It’s the fact that a child who came to us without much enthusiasm for learning and motivation now has joy in their eyes, eagerly looks forward to the next classes, has caught the learning bug, believes in themselves, has built great relationships within the group, and wants to move forward – that’s priceless! 

It’s also wonderful to see graduates coming back to us and becoming mentors – teachers for the younger kids. They once received our help, and now – as volunteers – they share their time and skills with those who need them. 

7. When we came across your foundation and the page about the Hackers program online, we immediately felt that we have a lot in common and that together, we can work towards a common goal: the technological development of children. So, tell us, how can technology companies, especially those in the IT sector (and beyond), support your efforts? What does such a collaboration look like?  

Anna Grzesiak, Manager of Business Partner Relations: The strength of the Hackers project lies in the companies and individuals that support us. Collaboration with businesses and organizations that feel socially responsible is incredibly important, and we are very grateful for it. It allows us to expand our educational programs and invite more children to participate. Partnerships with businesses translate into actual hours of learning for students, which is why financing a “superpower package” for Hackers is such a crucial form of support. This helps us ensure children have access to education.  

We also organize field trips to companies, where Hackers can see technology in action firsthand, as well as inspirational meetings and educational workshops at headquarters, where employees talk to the children and answer their questions. Organizations also donate laptops and computers, which we use to equip care facilities and community centers. The events are organized at the company head office, where children participate in engaging tasks and combine fun with learning.  

Additionally, we work within employee volunteering programs and create tailored cooperation options for companies. One of the most important events for us is the Hacker Gala – a celebration of the children’s year-round commitment. We invite companies to co-create this event with us, as without their support, such an initiative wouldn’t be possible.  

8. It’s important to highlight that the benefits go both ways. What do you believe a company supporting you can gain from this collaboration?  

Anna Grzesiak: That’s true. The benefits are mutual, and it’s a classic win-win situation. The company supports the Hacker’s growth, taking care of the “gear” on the development path, not only enhancing digital skills but also “hacking” reality together and “programming” a better future. This brings immense joy and a sense of purpose. Helping is just fulfilling!  

The company gains real and effective influence on the technological education of children and youth and the development of so-called future competencies, which also brings a lot of satisfaction. The Hackers project fits well into corporate CSR strategies and employees involved in it naturally become credible ambassadors for the organization’s employer branding. It’s also an opportunity to build community and team integration around important values – which, in times of dispersed, hybrid teams, is crucial for organizational culture.  

9. What are your plans for the future development of the Hackers project?  

Iwona Duda: We have many plans, of course – we want to keep developing the Hackers community, expand the range of activities, and reach new places. 75,000 kids in foster care need support. Therefore, scaling the project and looking for new companies and people willing to help us is very important.  

We need volunteers, donators, and wonderful partners like Ailleron, who will organize activities for the Hackers with us. Your support, involvement, and openness are priceless, and we sincerely thank you for that!  

10. You’re doing amazing things! We’re excited that we can work together. Looking at the youth we support, it’s clear that this gives them real value, supports their education, and brings them joy. Some, thanks to participating in the program, have discovered their passions and talents. We’re rooting for these kids, and we thank you for your collaboration and the energy you spread. 😊