Afrika Tikkun receives skills grant from Microsoft South Africa.
Technology giant Microsoft South Africa has given Afrika Tikkun a grant worth $150,000 (R2.5 million) as part of its Global Skills Initiative. The project focuses on bringing new digital skills to underserved populations and reskilling workers impacted by Covid-19 and the ensuing economic crisis.
The effort has reached more than 83,000 learners in South Africa and another 10 million in 231 countries so far.
Afrika Tikkun helps young people through its long-term intervention model, which includes skills development and work readiness programmes, while also addressing participants’ nutrition, health, and social needs.
The funding will enable Afrika Tikkun to recruit job seekers and reskill them to be better positioned for opportunities in the job market. Free access to curated learning pathways for sought-after roles within the economy across LinkedIn Learning, GitHub and Microsoft Learn will also be on offer.
The funds will contribute towards sourcing work experience and job placement opportunities and providing employability tools and connections to jobs offered. Additionally, work-based learning, coaching and mentoring as well as post-placement support through the organisation’s alumni network will also be available for learners.
In addition to Afrika Tikkun, Microsoft is joining forces with corporate partners who have committed to availing training laboratories to job seekerss as well as co-funding some Microsoft certifications.