Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world leader in cloud computing platforms, is launching the AWS re/Start program for the first time in Senegal, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This 12-week training program introduces young Africans from all backgrounds to careers in cloud computing. The goal is to help the continent embrace the fourth industrial revolution. In collaboration with Education Development Center, GetINNOtized, and I.T Open Talk Africa, AWS re/Start is part of AWS's expansion plan in Sub-Saharan Africa.
At a time when three-quarters of senior executives say that a lack of technical skills is a barrier to using cloud computing
*, Africa, where millions of young people enter the job market every year, is the scene of a major digital revolution. It is in this vein that AWS, which has been established on the continent for several years, has rolled out the AWS re/Start program, whose educational content includes both lectures and practical application. Through this training, learners acquire skills in Linux, Python, networking, security, and relational databases. Help with writing a resume and mock interviews are also included in this comprehensive course, which is supervised by professional mentors and accredited instructors. At the end of the training, graduates take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification exam, which is recognized by the industry and validates their cloud computing skills.
In Senegal, AWS re/Start is being launched jointly by AWS
and the Education Development Center (EDC)
—an American NGO specializing in education—through its project to Improve Work Performance and Entrepreneurship in Senegal (APTE-Senegal), designed in partnership with the Government of Senegal and the Mastercard Foundation.
In the DRC, AWS is collaborating with I.T Open Talk Africa (Itot Africa)—a Congolese startup that aims to bridge the digital and professional skills gap in the DRC and more broadly in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa—to build an inclusive and diverse global pipeline of new cloud talent, focusing on people who are far from employment.
Finally, in Rwanda, AWS re/Start is delivered in collaboration with getINNOtized through its flagship Azubi Africa training program, as well as with ITi Africa, a Rwandan solutions provider specializing in IT and cloud computing services.
The expansion of the AWS AWS re/Start program—launched in 2017—in these three countries is part of Amazon Web Services' commitment to provide 29 million people worldwide with free access to cloud computing training by 2025. On the African continent, seven countries in particular now have access to AWS AWS re/Start: South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.
Marine Houmeau, AWS re/Start Program Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, says: "Amazon Web Services is truly proud to launch AWS re/Start, our flagship program, in Senegal, Rwanda, and the DRC. Following South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria, AWS continues to empower African talent through training in the skills that will shape the Africa of tomorrow."
Tejas Vashi, Global Team Lead for the AWS re/Start program, adds: "AWS re/Start is a success when our program graduates launch their careers in the cloud. Through real-world scenario-based learning, labs, and courses, learners can gain the skills they need to enter entry-level cloud roles. In addition, AWS re/Start provides training in employability skills, such as resume writing and interview coaching, to prepare learners for meetings and interviews with employers, as well as communication and presentation skills, all of which are part of a holistic development experience that prepares individuals for employment.
Selina Adams, a learner in the AWS re/Start program in Accra, Ghana, concludes:
"AWS re/Start enabled me to acquire cloud computing skills, even though I had no experience in the field of IT. Since then, new doors and horizons have opened up, particularly in terms of employment. That's why this program is a real springboard."
Press release