Amazon Web Services (AWS), is set to launch four cohorts of its re/Start cloud skills training program in Africa this month as part of the program’s rapid expansion plans this year.
The AWS re/Start cloud skills training program will launch for the first time in Kenya and an additional three cohorts in South Africa in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Mahikeng by the end of May 2021.
According to a statement from AWS, the re/Start program is a free, full-time and will run for 12 weeks. It is designed to support people who are unemployed or underemployed, and who have little technology experience, for careers in cloud computing. The program also provides participants with new cloud computing skills, career and resume coaching, and interviews with local employers.
AWS re/Start is collaborating with getINNOtized, a tech company with roots in Germany that’s driven by creating social impact in Africa, and with Ajira Digital, a Kenyan government initiative driven by the Ministry of ICT, Innovations, and Youth Affairs to empower over one million young people to access digital job opportunities in Kenya.
The new launches are part of AWS re/Start’s new entry into Africa. The program launched its first Africa cohort in October 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has since added additional cohorts in South Africa, and expanded the program to Ghana and Nigeria.
Building opportunities in the cloud for learners of all backgrounds
The AWS re/Start is building a diverse pipeline of entry-level trained talent by collaborating with organizations including with business intelligence, analytics, and data management services company Praesignis in South Africa, getINNOtized in Ghana, and Edojobs in Nigeria.
The training includes developing skills in programming, networking, security, and relational databases through real-world-scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and coursework.
By the end of the course, graduates have hard skills, soft skills, and earn their AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification, an industry-recognized credential validating cloud computing skills.
AWS said the program connects over 90% of graduates with job interview opportunities and at the end of 2020, AWS re/Start operated in 25 cities across 12 countries across Africa. The company expects to double the number of cities in which it operates.
The AWS re/Start program is part of Amazon’s commitment to help 29 million people around the world grow their tech skills with free cloud computing skills training by 2025.
