Learning knows no boundaries, it can be done anywhere, at any time.
The GSG Freelance Academy is coming to Erbil & Sulaymaniyah
With numerous success stories in Palestine, Gaza Sky Geeks is extending the Freelance Academy to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. With the mantra of embracing digital, remote work, we aim to provide talented and skilled youth with all the tools they need to start freelancing and effectively making the entire world their workplace.
Make the world your workplace
GSG is the leading techhub in Gaza, providing a safe space for eager tech talent and entrepreneurs to get together to exchange ideas, learn and grow and. Consisting of three programmes, the Freelance Academy is GSG’s most diverse initiative. The main focus is on teaching talented youth how to market their skills and services, and how to establish their online brand using freelancing platforms or social media.
As an alternative to the scarce amount of job opportunities present in the traditional job markets in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, the Freelance Academy aims to give participants the tools and abilities to create a new source of income through online work. Through dedicated training, participants will increase their knowledge and communication skills enabling them to attract and work with clients from all over the world – in the comfort of their home.
Does this sound like something for you?
Applications for the Freelance Academy are now open. Apply before the 17th of January 2021 and join the group of like-minded professionals as the course kicks off in February 2021. (Please note: applications are now closed.)
About the Freelance Academy
The Freelance Academy is a 15-week mentorship programme designed to teach a broad spectrum of talents how to become successful online freelancers. Through sessions focusing on building a competitive online freelancing profile, social media marketing and networking, the programme is applicable to a wide range of skills: web development, graphic design, translation, social media, mobile development and front-end development.
Life-Changing & Empowering
After graduating from university, I ended up doing boring jobs completely unrelated to my major in English, because of the challenging economical situation in the West Bank. I always felt a mix of curiosity and doubt towards the world of freelancing – probably due to my poor knowledge of it. Luckily the fears disappeared within weeks of joining the first cohort of Freelance Training organised by GSG in Hebron city. I found myself receiving multiple job offers across various freelancing platforms, and therefore decided to quit my full time job.
Ashjan Tamimi
Freelance translator
I don’t settle for any project that comes my way, and I always encourage myself to follow the path of self-learning through accepting projects that push me to develop and grow. This also includes taking advantage of this time of unease due to Covid-19 to spend more time at home learning and working on projects. I am finally able to pay it forward and mentor the next technical training cohort.
I’ve always read the success stories on GSG pages, but now I’m one!
Bahaa AlKhatib
Android developer
Course Contents
Eligibility Criteria
1 Upper-Intermediate Spoken English skills
Ability to understand and speak English at least at an intermediate level is a must. Participants must have the needed English skills to allow them to communicate with clients from all over the world, which opens the door for them to secure a wide range of gigs.
2 Full-time commitment
Despite the fact that the freelance academy sessions are held for 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, participants must be fully available for three months — the training period. Full availability is crucial as it is key to committing to any assigned session schedule, completing tasks and assignments, attending networking events and other activities, as well as applying for gigs or working on projects when they start to land freelancing jobs during the training period.
3 Technical skills required
Proficiency in at least one of the following fields:
Part of the YIELDS Programme in partnership with Mercy Corps Iraq & Gaza Sky Geeks
YIELDS
The YIELDS programme works to ensure that refugee and host community youth have access to sustainable employment and the requisite technical skills to succeed. Mercy Corps works hand in hand with the private sector to support youth via one of three tracks based on their unique interest and skill set: technology-enabled employment creation; micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) support; and internship/job placement.
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps works to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. In more than 40 countries around the world, our nearly 6,000 team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict and the acute impacts of climate change. We’re committed to creating global change through local impact.
Gaza Sky Geeks
Gaza Sky Geeks is a Mercy Corps programme co-funded by Google For Startups. Since its launch in 2011 Gaza Sky Geeks has become a key pillar in the Palestinian tech ecosystem. Through the delivery of three core programmes – startup, freelancing and coding – Gaza Sky Geeks aims to empower tech and entrepreneurial talent to kickstart the digital economy in Palestine.
This is the chance to change your career path
Funded by RDPP
The Regional Development and Protection Programme for Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq (RDPP II) is a joint European initiative running until 2021. The Programme is supported by the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland and Switzerland.
Impact
26
Cohorts
1258
Graduates
59
Female Participation
30,000
Total number of jobs
97
Got at least one gig during the program
3,500,000
And more earned by graduates
