This archive report was first published on 27 October 2021.
On October 27, 2021, Windle International Kenya, Microsoft, and Elewa launched a 30-week intensive IT training program for twenty students from Kakuma refugee camp and its host communities.
The program, run by iTalanta academy, aims to prepare the students for employment as IT developers and is free of charge.
Estimated to cost USD 149,500, the project is part of iTalanta's initiative to discover, develop, and deploy talent in East Africa.
Graduates from the program will gain interview opportunities with Microsoft African Development Center or be absorbed into the iTalanta apprenticeship program.
Phyllis Mureu, Executive Director of Windle International Kenya, noted that the program provides an alternative pathway for learners from Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei Settlement, and the host community in Kakuma to generate income.
“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”, she said.
The curriculum will be supervised on-site by experienced coaches from iTalanta, focusing on programming and problem-solving skills relevant in the current market and IT space.
Students will be equipped with a laptop and a bicycle for their daily commute to the campus in Kakuma.
iTalanta's program consists of three phases: Discover, Develop, and Deploy talent.
Founder and CEO of Elewa, Jente Rosseel, decried the difficulty in finding quality IT resources in the industrialized world, affecting corporate enterprises and startups.
“At iTalanta, we engage young Kenyan IT professionals for a 2-year apprenticeship. While gaining a substantial salary, they constantly up-skill their level, as they are coached and supervised by senior IT profiles,” he said.
It is expected that with the industrialization of the iTalanta Academy and the iTalanta Apprenticeship program, more than 1,000 talented youth will be educated and employed over the next 4 years by iTalanta.
A parallel iTalanta campus in Nairobi is in the works, targeting young women from the Kibera and Mathare slums as the target audience.
