Non-profit tech academy WeThinkCode_ has partnered with the IDC Social Employment Fund (IDC-SEF) to launch a community-driven digital skills programme to equip 44 000 youth with the tools to enter the digital economy.
WeThinkCode_ students will deliver digital literacy and work-readiness training directly within their communities.
This effort aims to increase access to in-demand skills through Income-Backed Learning Pathways.
By participating, WeThinkCode_ students can earn wages while providing this training, effectively addressing a significant challenge: obtaining essential skills typically requires full-time study, which is often financially unfeasible without a steady income.
The “learn-or-earn” dilemma is particularly pressing in immersive fields like technology, where the intensive study demands make traditional employment difficult to maintain.
Research from YearBeyond’s 2022 Annual Report demonstrates the impact of work-integrated service learning: over 75% of youth reported improved career prospects following their service year, with 72% employed or studying within six months.
Additionally, 86% reported increased self-confidence, and 90% demonstrated growth in leadership and personal responsibility.
The new innovative approach not only broadens access to critical skills but also fosters leadership development among the academy’s students.
“This partnership shows what is possible when organisations collaborate to unlock opportunity at scale,” says Bhavanesh Parbhoo, SEF programme manager. “By empowering young people with practical digital skills, we are enabling pathways that young people can utilise to unlock career opportunities.
The programme delivers training through two channels:
- In-person workshops hosted with youth-focused community organisations and high schools (grades 10-12)
- Online webinars, which allow national reach and immediate access to digital certificates
WeThinkCode_ is currently onboarding partner organisations. Early engagements include the SA Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (SAAIO), LEAP Schools, Ennerdale Library, and Thokoza Progressive Youth, who have already started integrating the programme into their organisations.
“Digital inclusion is no longer optional. It is foundational to economic mobility,” says Ruvimbo Gwatirisa, director of partnerships at WeThinkCode_. “Through the IDC-SEF partnership, our students are advancing their own learning while shaping the futures of thousands of young people who deserve access to opportunity.”
The initiative builds on WeThinkCode_’s long-standing relationship with the IDC.