Exploring the world of no-code apps and future career opportunities — Year 2025
On 26th February 2025, Madeira Friends** **had the opportunity to run a workshop at Escola da APEL with a group of curious students aged 15–16. The goal: to introduce them to the power of AI and no-code tools and to open their eyes to *new possibilities in tech and remote work. *This session was part of a broader collaboration with Arte.M Association under the Heritage Stewardship project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
The session was led by Luis, Eli, Sebastian, and Daniel from Madeira Friends, who each brought their own experiences and energy into the classroom. The workshop kicked off with a short talk by Eli, who shared a personal presentation about artificial intelligence and how it is transforming the way we work, live, and connect, especially within remote work environments.
With the students already thinking about future career paths, the presentation sparked curiosity and encouraged them to think beyond traditional jobs. At the heart of the mission was this idea: many of the digital nomads and remote professionals who come to Madeira bring valuable skills with them, skills worth sharing with the next generation.
But it wasn’t just a talk. The second part of the session brought learning to life.
After a short demo by Sebastian featuring a playful Pokémon-inspired chatbot game, the students partnered up in small teams to create their own **interactive apps **using bolt.new — a no-code platform for building games and tools. Thanks to Madeira Friends, each team received access to a Bolt account and set off on their own creative journey.
And they didn’t hold back.
From trivia challenges to pinball games, poker apps, and even a digital take on a traditional Madeiran dance, the students’ imaginations turned into working prototypes, all within just a few hours. The classroom was filled with excitement, teamwork, and rapid learning.
To round off the day, each group presented their **creations **and even held a mini competition to select the winning game. The results left everyone — including the Madeira Friends team — amazed by how much the students had achieved in such a short time.
This initiative is just one of many that Madeira Friends is developing to build bridges between the local and international communities on the island. By bringing **real-world skills **and inspiration into classrooms, we hope to plant seeds for future careers and help local students see what’s possible when tech, curiosity, and global connection come together.
