59 youths with disabilities graduate with skills in IT

Fifty nine youths with disabilities on Thursday graduated from an innovative course designed to equip young people living with disabilities with IT skills.

The National Industrial Training Authority gave the graduates certification after completing a nine-month course at The Bridge Academy in Nairobi.

Speaking during the event, Dr Wanjiru Kariuki, Secretary of the State Department of Labour and Skills Development, highlighted the importance of programs like the IT Bridge Academy in bringing relevant skills and market demands together. 

“The government is trying to ensure that education and training are talking to the industry so that we produce graduates who can transit into the labour market seamlessly," she noted.

“We are cognizant of the fact that the development and implementation of demand-driven education and training cannot be possible without the support of industry players.”

According to Kariuki, the course enables youth living with disabilities to acquire valuable IT skills, paving the way for promising careers in the tech industry. 

The Bridge Academy was created in 2021 to help bridge the gap in IT skills for people with disabilities in Kenya.

In addition to providing a pool of skilled IT experts from which employers can choose, the academy gives its graduates six-month internships with its corporate partners.

"This program has equipped me with valuable social and technical skills that will open up my career options. I have gained the confidence to pursue a career in IT which I will supplement with my experience in animation and graphic design. I am excited to see what the future holds!" Sylvester Marete, a graduate of the program," she said.

Since it began, 145 students with disabilities have received training, providing an opportunity for young job seekers who have a passion for IT to gain expertise in the field. 

The program is a collaborative effort involving Sightsavers, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, NITA, United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), Safaricom, Three Talents, Accenture, and CISCO, who say that they are united by the shared goal of creating a diverse and skilled IT workforce.

"We are incredibly proud of our graduates and their unwavering commitment to this journey. Their success demonstrates the impact of the Bridge Academy model, and we encourage employers to recognize the immense potential of persons with disabilities," Moses Chege, the county director of Sightsavers Kenya said.

Regina Mukiri, Standard Chartered's Regional Head for Community Engagement and Impact in Africa and the Middle East, noted the program has made.

"Our partnership with Sightsavers and IT Bridge Academy enables us to ensure that our participants receive access to high-level skills to ensure they are workforce-ready upon graduation," she said.