Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH) together with its partners and sponsors graduated 50 students from the Amazon Web Services (AWS) re/start programme.
The ceremony held at BDIH Science and Technology Park in Gaborone, Friday was attended by delegates from UNICEF, Ministry of Knowledge, Communications and Technology, Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs and Botswana Telecommunications Corporation, to mention but a few.
The BDIH Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Diane Mongudi, thanked UNICEF for its financial contribution towards the programme and Amazon Web Services for the AWS re/start programme Catalytic Funding that was extended to the first cohort.
Mr Mongudi said AWS re/start programme was a full-time classroom based skills development and training that prepared individuals for careers in the cloud and connected them to potential employers.
He said for this programme, a technology background was not required to apply, citing that the programme was focused on unemployed or underemployed individuals in Botswana belonging to the youth bracket.
He said: “Through real world scenario-based learning, labs and coursework, learners gained the skills they need for an entry-level cloud role.
“AWS re/restart programme also provides learners with resume and interview coaching to prepare for employer meetings and interviews.
“Cumulatively, out of the 50 graduates, 13 got employed, thanks to the initiative,”
Mr Mongudi said the BDIH and AWS re/start programme partnership started in 2021 with the enrolment of 30 learners.
As of February 2024, 90 learners had enrolled of which only 50 managed to pass and were awarded AWS Cloud Practitioner Certificate.
Through this programme, Mr Mongudi said BDIH had been able to champion inclusivity in learning by way of reaching out and enrolling learners from the remotest areas of the country as the programme was offered online. So far they have had learners from Ghanzi, Maun, Kasane, Tsabong.
Mr Mongudi said in October 2023, 10 learners were ascended to the next level of AWS re/start programme and three managed to write and pass the examination, highlighting that one learner progressed to the AWS instructor certification and awaits awarding as he has completed the programme.
He added that BDIH and UNICEF’s commitment to digital skills development was showcased by the recent enrolment of 90 learners in the programme who were expected to complete in July 2024.
He said the impact of cloud computing cannot be overstated as it had transformed the way business was operated, enabling organisations to innovate, scale and compete in today’s fast paced world.
According to recent statistics, Mr Mongudi said the global cloud computing market was projected to reach over 800 billion by 2025 with an annual compound gross rate exceeding 17 per cent.
He said the figures underscored an immense opportunity that awaited graduates in the field of cloud computing, whether it was to pursue careers in cloud architecture, cyber security, data analytics or software development etc.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Botswana Deputy Country Representative, Ms Alexandra Illmer said AWS re/start programme represented a beacon of hope for Botswana’s youths and a testament to their collective commitment to preparing young people and providing them with skills and opportunities to thrive in the digital age.
Ms Illmer said the training was accessible to all, however, more efforts need to be done to spread it to other districts.
She said this programme was embedded in the Generation Unlimited project which aimed to help young people to become productive and engage members of the society to addressing key challenges such as unemployment, limited access to education and training and lack opportunities to entrepreneurship and social impact.
“In Botswana we have also been able to create significant partnerships with the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, MYSC, and Ministry of Education and Skills Development.
All these partnerships have yielded positive significant results, with more than 2 500 young people across Botswana having engaged in employability training in places such as Serowe, Francistown, Dukwi, Selebi Phikwe, Kang, Kanye, Moshupa and many others,” she said.
Ms Illmer said these employability trainings have been the first step in equipping young people with skills that they need to be employed and be productive.
She said the trainings introduced young people to entrepreneurship opportunities in the country and were delivered with critical partners such as Absa Bank, CEDA, LEA, Botswana Redcross Society and Stanbic, coming in as resource experts.
Ms Illmer added that they had also been able to host online learning opportunities which reached about 500 participants through the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs.
“We have also made strides in entrepreneurship hosting seminars and master classes to equip young people with skills they need to succeed as entrepreneurs,” she said.
With the AWS re/start programme, Ms Illmer said, they hoped to see 100 per cent employment being attained.
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