ADDISBITS
2008 - ongoing, Ethiopia
A Digital Web Design school where young people from slums in Addis Abeba,
Ethiopia are trained as web designers and cultural entrepenurs
Original concept: Butterfly Works
AddisBits was launched in May 2008. AddisBits is a similar programme to NairoBits, based in Nairobi, Kenya.
In the following movie Nestanet Regan (24), an AddisBits 2009 graduate, talks about the programme and how it contributed to her receiving an internship at the DIR Foundation.
After more than one year, our findings are that the AddisBits pilot, geographically located at the British Council in Ethiopia’s capital, appears to be a successful concept. With the following reasons:
- AddisBits offers youth with relatively scarce education and job opportunities more chances and a decent living
- AddisBits imparts youth with more confidence
- Students learn to take initiative, and think and work proactively
- Students can take responsibility of their own life and future
From the first reports of this course/training, which is still a pilot, it appears that the participants are highly motivated in finding their way in the ICT world:
Programming, graphic photography and web design are the particular directions the current 15 students can choose from. These students are about to enter the last phase in the curriculum, the 'Media Lab' programme.
It must be stressed that more attention is needed for English language and furthermore it is of fundamental importance to enhance leadership capabilities and creative development.
Initiative: Lenze Pekelsma
Collaboration: Digital Opportunities Trust Ethiopia, ICCO (2009), Linkis (2008), GTZ, NairoBits, British Council, Ethiojobs.net