Google.org Funds WeThinkCode to Equip 12,000 African Learners with AI Skills
This ambitious program is made possible by a $2 million grant from Google.org to WeThinkCode, a leading South African tech academy renowned for its tuition-free, aptitude-based training model.
A transformative initiative is set to equip 12,000 learners across South Africa and Kenya with essential Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills, directly addressing the continent’s digital skills gap and preparing youth for the rapidly evolving global job market. This ambitious program is made possible by a $2 million grant from Google.org to WeThinkCode, a leading South African tech academy renowned for its tuition-free, aptitude-based training model. The comprehensive, extracurricular course, spanning 40 to 80 hours, is designed to foster long-term economic growth driven by AI proficiency.
The program will run through 2026 and features two distinct, impactful streams. The first, “AI for software engineers,” will train 6,000 aspiring and early-career engineers in essential AI-powered programming tools and workflows, enhancing their technical capabilities. The second stream, “AI for non-tech careers,” will empower another 6,000 students and junior employees from diverse sectors like legal, education, and health. They will learn to seamlessly integrate AI into their daily administrative tasks, significantly boosting efficiency, productivity, and overall employability. WeThinkCode’s proven model of training unemployed youth from low-income backgrounds ensures this initiative will be inclusive, targeting individuals in peri-urban and rural areas to foster broader AI adoption across the continent.
