Youth in Kakuma refugee camp are set to benefit from a newly signed training program offered by iTalanta Academy.
The initiative prepares talented youth from refugee and host communities for employment as IT developers
The first campus of the iTalanta Academy starts in the Kakuma refugee camp earlier next month.
Already 20 candidates have been selected from the refugee camp and host communities, who will undergo an intensive 30-week program, preparing them for employment as IT developers.
The key learning opportunities for the students will be both focused on programming as well as problem solving skills which are highly relevant in the current market and IT space.
“Through the iTalanta Academy, the learners from Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei Settlement, and the host community in Kakuma will have an alternative pathway to generate income”, says Phyllis Mureu, Executive Director of Windle International Kenya.
This resonates well with the current plans to ensure that both the refugee and host communities work together towards social and economic development in Turkana County.
The programme is free of charge to the selected students.
They are equipped with a laptop and a bicycle, for their daily commute to the campus in Kakuma.
The curriculum is permanently supervised on site by experienced coaches from iTalanta.
The graduates from the program are likely to gain interview opportunities with Microsoft African Development Center or absorbed into the iTalanta apprenticeship program.
This first campus of the iTalanta Academy is co-sponsored between Windle, Microsoft and Elewa.