On 8 September 2022 Power Learn Project (PLP) in partnership with Adanian Labs SA and the ICRD Group’s Start-up Business Campus launched the #1MillionDevs4Africa Program in Thulamela Municipality, Thohoyandou in Limpopo and The Northern Cape at Barkley West. This is in line with the organisations mission to provide inclusive, accessible and affordable tech education to young people across the continent. Recently launched in Johannesburg, South Africa, PLP aims to train 1 Million software developers across the continent by 2027. South Africa is the second country in Africa, after Kenya to introduce the #1MillionDevs4Africa Program.
“With today’s explosion in technology, Power Learn’s primary goal is to give youth in Africa access to quality tech training. Technical skills are becoming more critical, and the most in-demand skills are evolving quickly. The main focus of our stakeholder engagement is to meet the learners, introduce the #1MillionDevs4Africa program, and outline how the four-month hybrid training program, which is a borderless, Pan-African software tech training, is supported in each country and could potentially create substantial value for them and their communities. As we introduce the program to SA, we are optimistic that the broadest ecosystem of learners will have access to apply,” says Mumbi Ndung’u, Chief Growth & Operations Officer for Power Learn Project.
For South Africa to realise the opportunity the 4IR (4th Industrial Revolution) offers, it is imperative that the current tech capacity gap is addressed. In accordance with President Ramaphosa’s commitment to a “skills revolution”, PLP in partnership with Startup Business Campus, one of South Africa’s leading entrepreneurial investment hubs, are looking to build a large talent pool that are ready to build local solutions that scale globally, support the local and global tech industry, provide employment for young people and solve pertinent local challenges.
“The process of development is not about developing things; it is about developing people who when empowered can develop things. The Power Learn Project is a necessary step in unlocking the digital economy Revolution for young people in Africa,” says Lucky Litelu, Founder of Startup Business Campus and head of Partnerships, Incubation & Investments
Initially launched in 2022 in Kenya, PLP is a Pan African impact organisation with a vision of driving transformative change for the youth in Africa by empowering them with relevant technology capacity through provision of quality, affordable and decentralised tech training. The transfer of skills, skills development and technological capacity have been flagged as critical to developing solutions for unemployment and underemployment in South Africa, and Africa as a whole. The #1MillionDevs4Africa is Power Learn Project’s flagship programme.
PLP aims to kickstart software careers with entry level, fully funded training using free data access and a self-paced learning management over a period of 16 weeks. The courses range from programming languages such as Python and Dart Programming with Flutter to Blockchain 101, Databases and Entrepreneurial skills. The learners will then have opportunities for hands-on practical experience through a proof of work module. Learners will earn a certificate upon successful completion of the course and join a community of young skilled Africans ready to take on the digital opportunities.
“Upon completion of the course, learners will have access to a number of opportunities and alternative educational pathways through the organisation, ranging from internships and proof of work opportunities or venture studio and incubator connections if they want to explore entrepreneurship,” states Ndung’u.
In the pilot phase of the South African programme, PLP aims to train 1000 software developers in South Africa over four months. The call for applications is open until the 30th September 2022 more details on www.powerlearnproject.org
Over the next few months, PLP is also looking to launch four more pilot countries; Zambia, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Ghana with North Africa envisioned for phase 2 of the program.
“We are all working towards the Pan African dream of building relevant capacity to extract value from the fourth industrial revolution. We invite our partners, especially our learners from across Africa, to join us on this transformational journey,” says John Kamara, chairman of the Power Learn Project board.
