African learners to plug cloud skills gap

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Amazon Web Services

by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – TODAY, Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ: AMZN), announced the launch of AWS re/Start in South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria. AWS re/Start is a skills development and job training programme which aims to build local talent by providing AWS Cloud skills development and job opportunities at no cost to learners that are unemployed, underemployed, or from under-represented communities.

The AWS re/Start programme is designed to accommodate differing levels of experience – even those with no previous technical knowledge can apply.

AWS re/Start is a 12-week skills-based training programme that covers fundamental AWS Cloud skills as well as practical career skills such as effective communication, time management, collaboration, interviewing, and CV writing.

With the support of professional mentors and accredited instructors, learners build a variety of technology skills such as programming, networking, security, and relational databases through real-world-scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and coursework.

The programme also prepares and covers the cost for participants to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam, validating their cloud skills with an industry-recognised credential.

On completion of the programme, individuals will be able to apply for entry-level cloud roles in cloud operations, site reliability, infrastructure support, and technical adjacent business support functions.

In South Africa, AWS re/Start is working with Praesignis, a Professional Services Consultancy that specializes in Data Management, Business Intelligence and Analytics together with cloud services management. Praesignis will deliver the learning experience, provide a pathway to earning AWS Certification, and support the learners as they launch their careers in cloud computing. They will also support graduates by connecting them directly with potential employers.

“AWS re/Start is building a diverse pipeline of new cloud talent by engaging unemployed, underemployed, and under-represented people in Sub-Saharan Africa who otherwise might not have had access to this exciting career path,” said Linda Siso, Head of Education at Amazon Web Services South Africa.

“AWS re/Start creates a win-win scenario for individuals, local communities, and our customers and partners. It connects individuals to in-demand cloud and tech opportunities, and provides AWS customers and partners with a means to build a loyal and diverse workforce.”

“We are ecstatic to collaborate with AWS re/Start to build essential AWS cloud skills that will enable South Africans to take up careers in the growing cloud computing job market”, says Johan Ceronio, CEO of Praesignis.

“This collaboration will compliment South African President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa’s, initiative to prepare the country for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is going to place huge demand on the skills required in the job market”.

Praesignis, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), will be launching the new skills development initiative coupled with a learnership program that will build an inclusive and diverse pipeline of new talent into the cloud ecosystem, by empowering and providing skills to unemployed and underemployed individuals with a basic technology background, and preparing them to launch a cloud career.

“Before joining the program, I was unemployed with no work experience. As preparation for the future in IT, I joined AWS re/Start to gain an IT qualification as well as work experience,” said Didie Ramunyaduwa, a learner at AWS re/Start program in South Africa in collaboration with Praesignis.

“I am excited about launching a career in cloud computing because I have also been introduced to the Linux platform, which is something that I have always wanted to learn. I enjoy the coding, and I believe that this experience will unlock doors for me in the future.”

Mclean Ncube, another AWS re/Start learner in South Africa said, “I fell in love with the opportunity that AWS re/Start offered and I believe it is going to be a unique opportunity for me to develop myself and learn skills that I wouldn’t have learned through other programs.

“The cloud is the fastest growing technology out there; everything is moving towards the cloud and I believe with the AWS re/Start program, I can learn skills I never thought I would have the opportunity to learn. Before I joined the program, I was busy with a generic management learnership programme with Praesignis. This will open opportunities with an internationally recognised accreditation, allowing me to work across different countries and upskill myself.”

The three AWS re/Start cohorts in Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria will graduate in January 2021, and will be ready for entry-level cloud positions.

The AWS re/Start program is now running in 12 countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Ghana, Ireland, Nigeria, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, UK, and US. For more information or to connect with AWS re/Start graduates, visit: https://aws.amazon.com/training/restart/

– CAJ News

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