Youth aged 14 to 25 will have access to IBM technology facilitated by The African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI)

IBM and the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) launched the Open P-TECH for Africa program which will provide Kenya’s youth with skills relevant to the digital era and marketplace.

The Open P-TECH for Africa program will provide 50,000 Kenyan youth aged 14 to 25 years with access to digital training about emerging tools and technologies designed to help them leapfrog to a better future.

With rising youth unemployment, Open P-TECH for Africa will help empower Kenyan youth to bridge the digital literacy gap; form a new talent pool created for 21^st century jobs; enable them to plan professional careers; and find jobs or even create their own start-ups.

Open P-TECH is a free digital learning platform for students (grades 9-14), parents, and educators that supports learners in developing both soft skills and hard skills (including education on cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital thinking and more) to prepare them for jobs of the future. Currently, it has more than 224,000 registered members in 137 countries and is available in nine languages.

AFRALTI will leverage their footprint and mobilise trainers, volunteers, teachers, and students to implement the program across Kenya. The facilitator-led training will be provided both in person, when possible, and through an online platform.

After completing a minimum of the 20 hours of AFRALTI-facilitated training optimised for the learning objectives, the learners will get certificates in addition to internationally recognised badges from the Open P-TECH platform.

The ICT Authority of Kenya is also a key stakeholder in the program which aims to empower more Kenyan youths in the area of ICT. Through the Presidential Digitalent Programme run by the Authority, 50 graduates from the program will facilitate the training, alongside AFRALTI facilitators, to other learners.

Through the Open P-TECH for Africa, students can now prepare for careers, internships, apprenticeships and new-collar jobs and earn the same badges as professionals in their fields of interest. While it is focused on youth aged 14-25, the program will impact young people in the workplace, entrepreneurs, educators, developers as well as learners who are looking to be better prepared for new collar careers.

Registrations are open at https://www.afralti.org/registration-form/ or alternatively by email to training@afralti.org

About IBM
IBM is the global leader in business transformation, serving clients in more than 170 countries around the world. Today, 47 of the Fortune 50 companies rely on the IBM Cloud to run their business and IBM Watson enterprise AI is hard at work in more than 20,000 engagements. IBM is also one of the world’s most vital corporate research organisations, with 27 consecutive years of patent leadership. Above all, guided by principles for trust and transparency and support for a more inclusive society, IBM is committed to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world. For more information, visit www.ibm.com and www.ibm.org.

About AFRALTI
The African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) is an inter-governmental Institute established in 1991 to supplement and spearhead ICT development efforts mainly in English-speaking Africa. AFRALTI has an African footprint in the continent. AFRALTI offers training in the fields of Telecommunications Engineering, Information Technology, Management, Policy and Regulation Training.  Our mission is to provide quality training, consultancy and advisory services to the ICT Sector in Africa. www.afralti.org