Blossom Academy is proud to announce that it has secured a grant from the Internet Society Foundation for its program titled “Building Data Professionals For Internet Opportunities.” This exciting initiative aims to equip underemployed professionals in Ghana with critical data and leadership skills, helping them to unlock freelance and consulting opportunities and significantly increase their incomes through the power of the Internet.

Addressing the Skills Gap in Ghana’s Digital Economy

Across Africa, millions of talented youths face barriers in accessing the skills necessary for today’s rapidly evolving job market, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds. In Ghana, this challenge is especially pronounced. According to a recent report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), nearly 20% of Ghanaian companies surveyed recruit digital talent from abroad due to a lack of locally skilled professionals. Simultaneously, local professionals struggle to access the resources needed to upskill themselves and seize global opportunities.

Blossom Academy’s new project directly tackles this gap by offering a comprehensive 24-week training and specialization program. The program focuses on data analytics and digital marketing, two in-demand fields that enable professionals to participate in the global digital economy. This initiative is set to provide underemployed Ghanaian professionals with the skills and support they need to pursue remote freelance and consulting opportunities.

Leveraging the Power of the Internet

The Internet plays a central role in this project. Blossom Academy’s training model blends online and in-person learning, enabling participants to access a wealth of resources and learning opportunities from anywhere. Approximately 75% of the program will be delivered virtually, allowing participants to receive real-time assessments, mentorship, and coaching via the Internet. This flexibility is critical to ensuring that students from all backgrounds, including those in remote areas with less reliable connectivity, can participate and succeed.

Throughout the program, participants will receive hands-on training in data analytics tools, leadership development, and mentorship from the Blossom Academy alumni network. The specialization phase will provide them with critical freelancing and consulting skills, guiding them through platforms like Upwork and Preply to secure paid projects.

Key Deliverables and Impact Goals

Blossom Academy aims to:

• Recruit and develop 150 underemployed Ghanaian professionals, with a goal of achieving 50% female participation over the next two years.
• Ensure 90% of students graduate from the program and help 80% secure full-time, remote freelance, or consulting opportunities.
• Provide students with tailored career support and mentorship to help them increase their overall income by 2x within a year of completing the program.

To support graduates’ success, Blossom Academy will create opportunities for ongoing professional development. This includes partnering with platforms like DataCamp Donates to provide additional learning. Graduates will also have access to Blossom’s alumni community, which spans over 400 data professionals working in various roles across the globe.

A Vision for Long-Term Impact

Blossom Academy envisions a ripple effect of this initiative, not only helping individual graduates but also creating lasting economic impact in their communities. Graduates will use their newly acquired skills to support both formal and informal sector businesses in Ghana, from helping local entrepreneurs increase their sales to providing consultation services to larger firms.

With this project, Blossom Academy is also committed to bridging the gender skills gap in Ghana’s digital economy by recruiting at least 50% female participants. The initiative aims to empower women to pursue remote freelance opportunities, enabling them to achieve work-life balance and gain financial independence.

Looking Ahead

Blossom Academy has consistently demonstrated its ability to create high-impact programs with a career placement rate of 85%. With this grant from the Internet Society Foundation, the Academy is poised to continue empowering underemployed youth, helping them build globally competitive skills and secure meaningful economic opportunities.

For more information about the Internet Society SCILLS program, please visit https://www.isocfoundation.org/grant-programme/scills-grant-programme.

For more information about Blossom Academy and its programs, please visit www.blossom.africa.