A Chelmsford teenager has celebrated a major coding milestone with a special event attended by family and friends, after becoming the first student at Code Ninjas Chelmsford to achieve the programme’s top ‘Black Belt’ status.
Yusuf Alchalabi, 15, marked the achievement with a celebration recognising his journey from beginner to advanced game developer. Photos from the event show Yusuf celebrating with family and school friends as he received his Black Belt recognition.
Reflecting on the milestone, Yusuf’s parents said: “We’d both love to thank the team for all their help over the last few years. Yusuf has loved coming here and learning to make games – something he can take with him for the future – and we are all very proud of him.”
Yusuf first joined Code Ninjas Chelmsford in September 2021, aged just nine, and has since progressed through the programme’s belt system – working his way from White Belt to Black Belt, the highest level awarded to students who complete a substantial final project.
For Studio Manager Sophie Johnston, the moment has been incredibly special. “Yusuf joined just two months before I started here, so I’ve been lucky enough to see almost his entire journey,” said Sophie. “I’ve watched him grow not only as a coder, but from a young boy with big dreams into the confident and capable young person he is today. Seeing him become our first Black Belt is a very proud moment for all of us.”
At Code Ninjas, children aged 5-14 learn to code in a safe, supportive and seriously cool environment. Guided by Senseis, they work through creative challenges that introduce coding, robotics and the fundamentals of AI in an age-appropriate way – helping them build games, write code and think like engineers. While the emphasis is on fun, Ninjas also develop resilience, problem-solving skills and confidence that often extend beyond the classroom.
Yusuf’s final project – Cybernetic Warfare – is a sci-fi, cyber-themed first-person shooter game, where players travel through multiple levels, taking on enemies in imaginative settings. He drew inspiration from games he enjoys at home, as well as levels he previously designed using Roblox Studio.
“Throughout his journey, Yusuf showed fantastic problem-solving skills and real perseverance,” explained Sophie. “As the projects became more advanced, he confidently applied programming concepts like sequencing, loops and conditionals within his work. He also developed a strong understanding of debugging – carefully testing and refining his code to improve performance and fix issues.”
Like many young developers, Yusuf faced challenges along the way, particularly when tackling more complex tasks and troubleshooting in Unity. However, it was his attitude that stood out most.
“There were moments when things didn’t work the first time – or even the second,” said Sophie. “But Yusuf stayed patient and positive. He asked questions, did his own research and tried different solutions until he found what worked. That determination really helped him grow in confidence.”
Beyond his technical achievements, Yusuf has also developed personally during his time at the centre. He has become more confident sharing ideas, speaking about his projects and supporting other Ninjas during sessions, often helping them work through problems in their own games.
“He’s become someone the younger Ninjas look up to,” Sophie added. “He’s encouraging, willing to help and genuinely passionate about what he does.”
To learn more about Code Ninjas Chelmsford, visit: www.codeninjas.co.uk/chelmsford-ess-uk
