Africa’s next top coders take on the world workforce
Onja is a social enterprise in Madagascar that trains capable, underprivileged youth into world class software developers and places them in global tech teams.
Initiated and led by Rotarian Simon Jones, with the backing of Kevin Kevany and Gary Key, from the Rotary Club of St Johns and District 9920, two global grants were awarded for a total amount of US$213,176, with contributions from Rotarians, individuals, Rotary clubs, The Rotary Foundation and Rotary Districts 9920, 9630, 9980, 9930, 9940, 9970, 9550 and 1030. The grants funded three full years of English and software development training for the program’s pioneering class and included costs such as student accommodation, food, healthcare, computers, and internet, allowing students to fully dedicate themselves to their highly intensive and demanding studies.
Despite coming from underprivileged backgrounds, Onja students graduated from school scoring in the top one per cent of their peers and were chosen for their diligence, character and potential.
The program’s first cohort began in January 2019. At the time, the students barely spoke a word of English, and most had never touched a computer before. Incredibly, just two years later, the program’s first graduate started working as a software developer for a UK start-up team! Now, the entire cohort of 19 students are working as software developers for companies in Europe and the US. All these developers work remotely from the program’s campus in Madagascar.
“Now, the entire cohort of 19 students are working as software developers for companies in Europe and the US.”
The program is already completely self-sustaining and is now entering a high growth stage, aiming to take on up to 100 new students each year starting in 2024.
This is just the beginning of an exciting Rotary project that is set to spread true opportunity where it is most needed and is a good reminder of how Rotary is playing a defining and leading role in these sorts of high impact, innovative initiatives.
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