Empowering Youth with Digital Skills: DOT Jordan’s Digital Jobs Program

Digital Jobs Program which falls under the Daring to Shift Project. 

In the past, an average person would need a few basic computer skills to be a qualified candidate in the job market. Today, however, things are very different as digital skills have taken center stage in the modern workplace. Employers now demand tech-savvy individuals who can navigate various digital tools and platforms. Digital literacy is no longer a bonus; it’s a necessity.

Daring to Shift is a four-year project by Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), supported by Global Affairs Canada, aimed at inclusive community development that empowers young women and men to create opportunities and transform their communities. Due to the importance of technology, one of the pillars of this project is the digital skills training program, which offers a range of programs tailored to the needs of vulnerable youth and refugees. 

One of the program participants, Salma Ghozlan, shared her experience, saying, “After I attended the Mobile Applications Development training and created my CV and LinkedIn profile through the program, a company reached out to me via LinkedIn. I agreed to an interview and was offered a developer position. It changed my life.”

Through the Digital Jobs pillar, DOT supports young women and men in developing the digital skills required to secure a livelihood in an ever-evolving job market, offering basic, intermediate, and advanced skills. In an era where remote work has become commonplace, the program focuses on leveraging digital technologies to communicate, collaborate, and analyze data to enhance productivity and competitiveness. These programs are divided into two levels, each building upon the previous one: Digital Jobs Level One – Basic: Soft Skills, Basic Digital Skills, and Micro Jobs. Digital Jobs Level Two: 1. Intermediate: Building an E-commerce Website, Graphic Design, and Social Media, and 2. Advanced: Python Programming Essentials, Full Stack Development, Mobile Apps Development, Virtual Reality, and 3D Printing and Robotics.

Mohammad Al Harriri, one of the participants, expressed, “Now that I have finished the training that DOT Jordan put in place, I am seriously thinking about starting my project and teaching filmmaking to young people. And here I am, starting my freelance work as a graphic designer. It’s been a transformative journey.”

The outcomes of the program are inspiring. Young participants see a remarkable increase in their market value. Also, participants, especially women, report that they become more qualified and have more access to job opportunities. Lastly, participants see an increase in their income. In the past years, the program achieved significant results, with 5,347 participants completing the digital skills program across Jordan. The program was divided into two levels: Digital Jobs Level One (basic evel: 2,301 participants) and Digital Jobs Level Two (intermediate and advanced levels: 3,046 participants), with 3,920 of them being females. The program also saw a 33% participation rate from refugees. Over the project duration, 9 design labs were conducted to co-create and update the program, ensuring it aligned with the job market requirements in Jordan. This resulted in the development of 6 new training programs in collaboration with community participants.

Dania Mohammad shared her experience, saying, “I registered in DOT’s training programs to develop my skills, and after completing the training and with DOT Jordan’s support, I obtained two opportunities as an enumerator. Currently, thank God, I have a small online project called Kartoneh that presents handmade gifts for all occasions at special prices.”

In the future, the aim is to reach more youth, providing them with the digital skills necessary to enter the job market, enhance their livelihoods, and uplift their communities. Also we aim to create and develop curriculums to meet the needs of the job market. Daring to Shift’s Digital Jobs Program catalyzes change, transforming the lives of young individuals and, in turn, the communities they come from by capitalizing on digital skills and technologies.