Mentor Spotlight: Ishaq Zakavi
At Bold Idea, our mentors play a crucial role in inspiring and guiding young coders. One of those dedicated mentors is Ishaq Zakavi, a Software Engineering Manager at Pariveda Solutions and a volunteer at the Mark Twain Coding Club. With a passion for teaching and a love for coding, Ishaq brings energy, creativity, and patience to the classroom each week.
For Ishaq, mentoring at Bold Idea was a natural fit. “I love to teach, and I don’t really get a chance to work with kids very often,” he says. “Since coding is what I do at work, this opportunity allowed me to use my skills for volunteering. I think skills-based volunteering is more valuable in general.”
Working with elementary students is always an adventure. “They have so much energy at the end of the day,” Ishaq explains. “Some days, they’re super engaged and excited to learn. Other days, it’s harder to keep their focus.” His approach? Keep it fun. “I try to make coding feel like play instead of work.”
One of the biggest changes Ishaq has noticed is the improvement in students' computer literacy. “Some students start out hunting and pecking for keys, still learning how to use a mouse. As basic as that sounds, those are important skills to develop early in this digital world.”
For more advanced students, he sees them growing in logic, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. “They start to approach coding like a puzzle, figuring out how to break down problems and solve them step by step.”
Like any classroom, there are challenges. Tech issues, internet connections, and missing resources can sometimes disrupt learning. “It makes a huge difference when students have the right tools,” Ishaq says. “That’s why fundraising is so important—it helps make sure everyone has what they need to stay engaged and succeed.”
Despite the challenges, Ishaq finds mentoring incredibly rewarding. “It’s amazing to see students grow more confident in their abilities. Watching them go from being unsure to solving problems on their own is the best part.”
At Bold Idea, mentors like Ishaq are helping students discover the power of coding—not just as a skill, but as a way to think critically, solve problems, and create their own ideas.
Interested in becoming a mentor and making an impact like Ishaq? Join us at Bold Idea!