Student-led in Ashburn, Virginia

We're students helping people learn technology.

We run hands-on coding and electronics workshops, help people get comfortable with everyday tech, and work to give useful donated devices a second life.

Explore Arduino classes OpenByte Positions

Hands-on learning Patient guidance Community access

What we doLearn it.
Build it.

01Build real projects02Ask tech questions03Reuse good devices04Learn online safety

For familiesHands-on projects and safer tech habits for kids.For older adultsPatient help with phones, laptops, and everyday online tasks.For donors and partnersGive a device, host a drive, or help fund the work.

Why this matters

We want people to feel comfortable learning technology.

A first website. A working LED circuit. Figuring out how to use a phone or laptop. These might seem like small steps, but they can make technology feel a lot less intimidating.

We teach at a pace people can follow, with enough time to ask questions, make mistakes, and try again.

One mission / three movements

01Kids learn by making.

They try things, ask questions, and share what they build.

02Older adults get time.

We slow down, listen, and work through the task together.

03Devices go where they help.

A good device gets another chance to help.

From the roomThe best part is seeing it click.

Students build something, explain it, and leave knowing they can do more than they thought.

Students demonstrating an interactive website they built — Made by students.

Students receiving recognition after their presentations — A little recognition goes a long way.

Meet the people behind OpenByte

We're the students behind OpenByte.

We're Adithya, Abdullah, and Bodha, three students at Stone Bridge High School. We started OpenByte after noticing how many people wanted to learn technology but didn't always have someone nearby who could help.

Our first outreach events didn't go as planned. Not many people showed up, even after we handed out flyers. We learned that the best way to get people interested was to give them something they could actually learn or build.

Adithya Kandasamy
Abdullah Ahamed
Bodha Achi

OpenByte co-founders · Stone Bridge High School

The three OpenByte co-founders standing by their technology education display with laptop and electronics kit — The three of us sharing OpenByte's projects at a community showcase. Photo featured in the Bulldog Tribune.

OpenByte team members and volunteers presenting together at a coding Demo Day — Our team presenting at a student coding Demo Day.

Our progress so far · October 2026

Here's what we've done so far.

2Documented online Arduino & Electronics lessons (October 11 and 18)

3ESP32 smart-car kits donated to OpenByte by Adeept

1Introductory responsible-AI and web-development workshop held in July

Our first two online Arduino lessons covered current, resistance, and LED circuits, followed by Arduino IDE programming and a blinking-LED project. Exact student attendance and kit handoffs are still being reconciled before we publish totals.

Read our Bulldog Tribune featureOpenByte Opens Technological PathwaysBy Saadya Bojja · October 9, 2026

Real participants and student instructors at an OpenByte coding workshop — One of our early coding workshops, photographed during Demo Day.

How we help

Here's what we're working on.

We teach coding and electronics, offer help with everyday tech, and organize local device donation efforts.

For kids

Coding & electronics workshops

From building a first webpage to lighting LEDs with Arduino, our students learn by making things.

For older adults

Digital confidence for older adults

Bring the phone, laptop, or online task that has been getting in the way. We’ll work through it together.

For the community

Community device drives

We collect useful devices, prepare them for a new home, and connect them with people who can use them.

OpenByte education

Beginner Arduino & Electronics.

Hands-on coding and circuits for students in grades 6–9. No previous electronics experience is required.

WhoGrades 6–9

Fall 2026 fee$100, including a take-home starter kit

FormatLessons began online; future in-person locations are subject to confirmation

Ask about upcoming classes

The current fall cohort is underway. Future registration dates, availability, and locations have not been announced. Contact our team for updates rather than using an expired form.

What we've taught

Learning by building.

October 11, 2026Electricity and circuits

Explore current and resistance, and assemble an LED circuit using electronic components.

October 18, 2026Arduino IDE and blinking LEDs

Write a simple Arduino program to blink an LED using an LED, resistor, and microcontroller.

These dates and topics come from documented completed lessons. Further sessions and attendance will be published once verified.

Got a device to spare?

It might be exactly what someone else needs.

A laptop or phone sitting in a drawer can help someone learn, apply for a job, stay in touch, or get through an everyday task.

Give a device Help fund a drive

Tell us what you have

We’ll let you know if it fits a current need and what to do next.

Host a drive

Schools, libraries, businesses, and neighbors can collect devices with us.

Pitch in where you can

Help with pickup, sorting, outreach, workshops, or the cost of getting devices where they need to go.

Donate technology

Give your unused tech a new purpose.

Have a laptop, tablet, phone, or another device to donate? Fill out this form with the device details and your preferred drop-off or pickup option. We'll follow up to confirm the next steps before you bring or send anything.

Open the technology donation form

If the form does not appear, use the external link above. Read our privacy policy before submitting.

Not sure where to start?

That’s okay. We can start with a conversation.

01
Tell us what you need.
Learn, get support, give a device, or volunteer.
02
Share the useful details.
You don’t need to have the perfect words.
03
We’ll point you in the right direction.
We’ll connect you with the right person or program.

Support OpenByte

Help someone get unstuck.

Your donation helps us run kids' workshops, sit with older adults as they learn, and get donated devices ready for their next home. The total and leaderboard update from Hack Club Bank.

Donate through Hack Club Bank OpenByte is fiscally sponsored by Hack Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible.

Questions people ask

A few answers before you reach out.

Still not sure? Email team@openbyte-np.org and tell us what you’re trying to do.

Is OpenByte only for beginners?

No. Programs start with the person in front of us. The goal is practical progress, whether that means a first step or a new project.

Can I give you a used device?

Yes. Fill out our technology donation form with details about the device. We'll follow up to confirm the next steps before you bring or send anything.

Can my school, library, or business work with you?

Yes. We can talk about hosting a class, organizing a collection, providing space, or supporting outreach.

Where can I see what donations are doing?

The live total and donor leaderboard above come directly from OpenByte's Hack Club Bank account.

Contact OpenByte

Have a question? Get in touch.

For partnerships, sponsorships, volunteering, program questions, device donations, or general questions, reach out by email or Instagram.

Email OpenByte

team@openbyte-np.org

Instagram

@openbyte.nonprofit

OpenByte Positions

Interested in joining OpenByte?

Use the OpenByte Positions form below to apply to join the team.

Open the Positions form

Apply using our Google Form.

The volunteer and leadership application opens in a new tab. For students under 18, please involve a parent or guardian as appropriate.

You can review our privacy policy first.

Open positions application