BrazilDeloitte helps UNICEF in Lebanon with digital skills building program
UNICEF has launched a new Deloitte backed program in Lebanon aimed at providing young Lebanese men and women with the skills needed to kickstart a successful career in the world of digital.
The so-called ‘Future Coders’ program sees Deloitte provide $100,000 in funding to UNICEF Lebanon, which in turn will use the funds to deliver a range of computer science and technology trainings to low-income youth across Lebanon.
The social impact partnership comes at a time of major hardship for Lebanon’s population – and youths. The country is facing what has been described as the World Bank as one of the “world’s largest economic crisis in the past 150 years”, mainly due to a political and government deadlock, systematic corruption and a crumbling banking system.
Edouard Beigbeder UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, said: “The hopes of the country rest on youth. Young people are the engine of the economy, and it is of utmost importance to equip them with the skills needed for the jobs of the future. Being forced by this unprecedented crisis to be the sole providers of their families sometimes, we aim at supporting them to access decent income generation opportunities.”
By providing young talent with in-demand digital skills, the program can “substantially augment their employability prospects and pave the way for entry to digital careers,” Beigbeder added.
The program, which is delivered in partnership with Beirut-based tech training provider SE Factory, will be delivered in a hybrid environment with both person and online sessions, and consist of courses on computer science, web development, and coding.
“Our objective is to have youth graduating from this program as full-stack web developers – a digital skill that supports them in finding employment in Lebanon or as remote workers.”
Meanwhile, for Deloitte, the partnership is part of its broader corporate social responsibility agenda, and builds on its long heritage in Lebanon.
Lebanon was one of Deloitte’s first markets in the Middle East (the Beirut office was launched in 1942), and the London-headquartered group was the sole Big Four firm that did not retreat during the country’s 15-year civil war. Since 1998, Beirut serves as the Middle East Firm’s regional representative office.
Rana Ghandour Salhab, Regional People and Purpose Partner at Deloitte in the Middle East, said: “This new program in Lebanon is even more critical under the current country challenges and is in line with Deloitte’s global WorldClass ambition to empower 100 million futures by 2030.”
“Coders, web developers, and digital professionals can build excellent careers to benefit them and their communities, and access more employment opportunities, whether they stay in their countries working remotely for companies based abroad, or create startups and social enterprises. Through this collaboration we’re aiming to support youth achieve these goals.”
Across the Middle East, Deloitte has around 5,000 staff working from 26 offices in 14 countries.
