feat: add fork it for kids article (#373)

Co-authored-by: Jeanne Grenet <jeanne.grenet@gmail.com>

Author: yoannfleurydev

src/content/news/2025-09-01-my-experience-organizing-fork-it-for-kids/devoxx-4-kids-event.jpg

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+---
+title: "My Experience Organizing Fork it! for Kids"
+date: 2025-09-01
+excerpt: >
+  Discover how organizing Fork it! for Kids brought coding fun to children,
+  overcoming challenges from simplifying concepts to managing diverse age groups
+  and volunteers. Learn key lessons from this rewarding experience.
+state: published
+authors:
+  - jeanne-grenet
+featuredImage: ./fork-it-for-kids-volunteers.jpg
+---
+
+import { lunalink } from "@bearstudio/lunalink"
+import { ROUTES } from "@/routes.gen"
+
+
+When I was a teenager, I attended **Devoxx4Kids**. That day was a turning
+point: it showed me that coding could be fun, creative, and collaborative. It’s
+actually one of the reasons I decided to become a developer. So with Fork it\!
+Community, I had this idea in the back of my mind: one day, I wanted to organize
+something similar, to pass on that spark to other kids.
+
+![Devoxx 4 Kids event](./devoxx-4-kids-event.jpg)
+
+## Preparing the event
+
+When we decided to launch Fork it\! for Kids in Rouen, I was both excited and
+anxious. Excited, because it was something close to my heart. Anxious, because
+working with kids is very different from preparing a talk for adults. I had to
+think about how to simplify concepts, how to make activities engaging, and how
+to adapt to very different age groups.
+
+Preparation meant more than just choosing workshops. It also involved
+coordinating with volunteers, securing the venue, and making sure we had the
+right equipment for each activity. We built a program that could fit everyone:
+Scratch and unplugged games for the youngest, robots and GDevelop for the middle
+group, and Python or web basics for the older ones. My biggest worry was
+simple: will the kids actually enjoy it? Or will they get bored halfway through?
+
+## On the day itself
+
+The answer came fast. As soon as the kids arrived, the atmosphere completely
+changed. The room was buzzing with curiosity, laughter, and a bit of chaos (the
+good kind). Some kids were shy at first, but you could literally see their
+confidence grow as they solved challenges or made something work for the first
+time.
+
+![Kids learning hot to develop a video game](./kids-learning-how-to-develop-a-video-game.jpg)
+
+For me, the day was a marathon. I didn’t get to sit still for a second: checking
+that each room had the right setup, helping volunteers, answering parents’ questions,
+fixing small technical issues. At times, it was stressful, there’s no “pause button”
+when you’re dealing with a group of kids\! But each time I stopped for a moment
+to watch a child proudly showing their game, their robot, or their very first
+line of code, it felt very satisfying. That’s when all the stress faded away.
+
+## What I learned
+
+What struck me most while organizing Fork it\! for Kids was how different it is
+to work with children compared to developers. I had to let go of jargon, explain
+things in the simplest way possible, and constantly put myself in their shoes.
+
+I also realized that not all kids learn the same way: some needed guidance step
+by step, while others preferred to experiment on their own. That meant giving
+space, not just instructions.
+
+Another lesson was learning to trust the volunteers. Each of them brought their
+own style to the workshops, and letting them adapt on the fly made the event run smoothly.
+
+And finally, I discovered that managing parents is part of the equation too,
+answering questions, reassuring them, keeping them involved. It was intense,
+sometimes messy, but seeing the kids’ proud of what they created made it all
+worth it.
+
+## Looking ahead
+
+This first edition was just the beginning. The enthusiasm from the kids, the
+positive feedback from parents, and the motivation of the volunteers convinced
+me that Fork it\! for Kids has real potential. I definitely want to organize
+more, improve the format, add new challenges, and make the next editions even 
+better.
+
+Organizing Fork it\! for Kids was a challenge, but also a very rewarding 
+experience. I’m glad I could share with kids the same kind of opportunity that 
+inspired me years ago.
+
+## Last words
+
+I would like to thanks [Sonyth](/people/sonyth-huber) and [Olivier Huber](/people/olivier-huber), [Nhung Duong](/people/nhung-duong),
+[Frédéric Bisson](/people/frederic-bisson), Noé Tatoud, Geoffroy Perrin,
+[Matthieu Coulon](/people/matthieu-coulon), [Ivan Dalmet](/people/ivan-dalmet)
+and Renan Decamps for their help and support for this event.
+
+![Fork it! For Kids volunteers, from bottom to top and left to right: Nhung
+Duong, Frédéric Bisson, Jeanne Grenet, Noé Tatoud, Geoffroy Perrin, Matthieu
+Coulon, Ivan Dalmet, Renan Decamps](./fork-it-for-kids-volunteers-selfie.jpg)
+