The freelance program
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With the development of digital services, companies increasingly look to digital freelancers to meet their business needs. This presents an opportunity for vulnerable people currently excluded from job opportunities. For example, refugees barred from local employment, women seeking safer home-based employment, or digitally unskilled youth. Konexio’s freelance training program offers a pathway from unemployment to integration in the online labor market. Our capacity-building and train-the-trainers model empowers local organizations at scale, our tested curriculum teaches the most in-demand freelance skills, and our partner network ensures a direct link to jobs.
Currently, Konexio operates the freelance program in Malawi, Kenya, and Jordan, with more project sites on the way. We partner with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), RefuSHE, and the UNHCR for ground operations. History- International Programs In 2019, Konexio launched its first pilot program with partners JRS in Malawi’s Dzaleka Refugee Camp, where nearly 50,000 refugees live. Konexio's pilot of the freelance program in Malawi boosted self-reliance and encouraged participants to discover new opportunities in the digital world. Stan, a program graduate, shares that “The opportunity that DIP offered me allowed me to earn my financial freedom by being self-employed online. My life is no longer the same, and I am also able to assist the community.” In 2021, Konexio successfully applied for the Google Impact Challenge for Women and Girls, with our implementing partner RefuSHE. This paved the way to launch our first programs in Kenya in 2022, empowering young refugee women in Nairobi to work as freelancers. As we expand, Konexio is actively planning for program launches in Kenya’s refugee camps and urban neighborhoods with high concentrations of vulnerable people. In 2022, Konexio broke ground on our first Middle East pilot, in Amman, Jordan, also with JRS. The pilot targets a mix of refugees and locals, who face a tough labor market and are seeking new opportunities via online freelancing. As the program develops, Konexio seeks to duplicate our model in other high-needs Middle East locations Since its founding in late 2016, Konexio has trained 2,700 beneficiaries and indirectly impacted 10,000 more. 78% of these beneficiaries have achieved employment, education, or entrepreneurship within 6 months of graduation. Konexio is proud to have mobilized over 300 partners in support of bridging the digital divide. In 2022, with the renewal of the Malawi pilot and new pilots in Nairobi and Kakuma, Kenya, and Amman, Jordan, Konexio will increase its DIP impact to 360+ direct beneficiaries by 2022. |
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Who do we serve?
Konexio’s pilot programme in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi serves displaced people, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. Though there is no age limit to our programs, Konexio generally serves a youth demographic, with trainees being on average 18-29 years old. To accelerate womens’ participation in the workforce, Konexio aims for a 50-50 gender split in all its courses.
Konexio is expanding to Kenya and Jordan, and is actively looking to expand to other high-need locations.
Konexio is expanding to Kenya and Jordan, and is actively looking to expand to other high-need locations.
Our Students say
“This course allowed me to acquire skills and a certain financial autonomy.”
Celine, DIP Graduate, Current DIP Instructor
“[Konexio] Really gave me the chance to succeed and build opportunities for myself. It gave me independence that I couldn’t find otherwise.”
Josue, DIP Graduate
“Konexio has really helped us. [DIP] has given us the chance to make money online, which is life changing."
Eujene, DIP Graduate
“I have learned the professional skills to work and build a career for myself as a professional translator. I translate from Swahili to English and do transcription work. This program has given me hope and confidence.”
Nancy, DIP Graduate
“We had to negotiate the rates, organize [ourselves], and work together to succeed. It is motivating...!”
Jolie, DIP Graduate
Celine, DIP Graduate, Current DIP Instructor
“[Konexio] Really gave me the chance to succeed and build opportunities for myself. It gave me independence that I couldn’t find otherwise.”
Josue, DIP Graduate
“Konexio has really helped us. [DIP] has given us the chance to make money online, which is life changing."
Eujene, DIP Graduate
“I have learned the professional skills to work and build a career for myself as a professional translator. I translate from Swahili to English and do transcription work. This program has given me hope and confidence.”
Nancy, DIP Graduate
“We had to negotiate the rates, organize [ourselves], and work together to succeed. It is motivating...!”
Jolie, DIP Graduate
Student Spotlight
“It was really a dream to have this chance.”
-Stan, DIP Graduate, Current DIP Instructor Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Stan D. arrived in the Dzaleka refugee camp after fleeing violence in his home country. Though safe from physical harm, Stan was left without an income or a way to plan for the future. Stan joined Konexio’s DIP in 2019 for a crash course in online freelancing. Learning how to operate as an online freelancer opened up new opportunities to put his translation and technical skills to work. Since completing DIP in 2020, Stan has worked actively as a freelancer and his earnings have allowed him to take major life steps, such as getting married. |
Our Impact
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Our Curriculum
Creating job opportunities through digital freelancing and soft skills training
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The DIP is a six-month course combining theory and practice for the delivery of online services, with the first three months dedicated to acquisition of hard and soft skills, and the second three months serving as a transitional practical training, during which students actively freelance under supervision of Konexio course trainers, earning income and refining their skills.
We consider soft skills just as important as technical skills, and devote significant time to making sure our students have the interpersonal skills to succeed at work and the knowledge and self drive to become lifelong learners. Our program is taught in a blended in-person and online format. Specific modules include freelance culture, client communication, business management and marketing, and specific freelancing skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, image editing, and web research. |
Course Structure
Module 1 : Digital Freelance Culture (6h)
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MODULE 2 : INTERNET FREELANCE (12h)
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MODULE 3: FREELANCE WORD PROCESSING (9H)
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Module 4: freelance spreadsheets (15h)
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Partners
Seeking Shared Value
In partnership with the UNHCR and Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS), Konexio has trained 60+ students in its pilot program in Dzaleka camp in Malawi, home to over 40,000 refugees, and is currently expanding to Kenya and Jordan.
We are actively looking to grow to other high-needs locations. To expand our programs, Konexio is seeking:
Want to work together? Please contact Allegra Harrison, our International Programs Officer at allegra.harrison@konexio.eu or donate to support our efforts!
We are actively looking to grow to other high-needs locations. To expand our programs, Konexio is seeking:
- Donations of money or equipment
- Implementing partners (Konexio uses the train the trainer model but needs implementing partners to bring programs to life)
- Sourcing and hiring partners
Want to work together? Please contact Allegra Harrison, our International Programs Officer at allegra.harrison@konexio.eu or donate to support our efforts!
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" For the students, the freelance training program has helped them gain knowledge on how to work on online platforms as a freelancer. For the community, this training has given the young people and the community at large a peek into and a taste of the digital world."
BIENHEUREUX M, Local Coordinator of the Team of Instructors
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