Digital Inclusion Program
Achieving Financial Autonomy Through Digital Freelancing
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With the development of digital services, companies are increasingly utilizing digital freelancers to fill their business needs. Global Workplace Analytics reports a 91% increase in remote work since 2010, resulting in a projected 149 million new digital jobs by 2025. At the same time, refugees and displaced people in developing countries face legal obstacles and difficult economic conditions, leaving them without any real opportunity for economic inclusion.
Konexio facilitates new opportunities for economic inclusion by leveraging the growing demand for online freelancing work. Our team of pedagogical experts have adapted Konexio’s flagship Digital Skills curriculum for online freelancing, enabling the world’s most vulnerable refugees to seek employment on the world wide web. By the end of the six-month course, students are actively earning income under supervision of Konexio course trainers, and have built up a portfolio of successful projects. With just a computer and an internet connection, graduates are enabled to take their livelihood with them, wherever they go next. |
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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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