"Our attempt is to provide an answer to the phenomenon of illegal migration and beyond: we are trying to offer an opportunity to the continent with the highest percentage of youths in the world," explained Mariarosy Calleri, president of the Association R.O.S.A., in a recent interview with ANSA.

The Recoding Africa program, which focuses on computer skills and know-how, is debuting this summer in Tanzania and is scheduled to be extended also to Uganda and Kenya, which have manifested interest. The non-profit organization is also eyeing Asia and Central America to promote the plan.

"The countries in the Asian continent are Indonesia and Thailand while in Central America we have presented a project to IOM (International Organization for Migration) for Santo Domingo and, thanks to other partners, we want to bring our experience to Belize. Between 2025 and 2026, we will be present in these contexts, turning Recoding Africa into Recoding Future," said Calleri.

The impact of Cisco's involvement in the plan

"Last week, we became a Cisco Network Academy, so we have the possibility of accompanying these kids by following international technological standards, with licenses that are recognized on a global level," explained Calleri.

The training program incorporates the Skills for All platform, continuously updated in alignment with international and market standards.

The hybrid training program uses a platform for e-learning and training with volunteers, mainly US students. For Calleri, "Cisco's involvement allows the project and our partners to become part of a mechanism and an environment which is already international and which can include mobility for professional reasons".

Through the Cisco platform, "we can offer courses worldwide and we can turn into reality the dream thanks to which we were born 10 years ago, on February 14, 2014: making the world a better place, creating happy islands in the African continent in order to prevent illegal migration."

'Objective to train workers and create happy individuals'

Training in particular focuses on developers and program creators "whose demand is expected to grow" but also has wider horizons.

"Our focus is on computer skills, but we are also interested in leadership, entrepreneurial culture and know-how in video content making," added Calleri.

"The final objective is not limited to training workers to join the labor force but to create happy individuals and community leaders. Enabling these people to work in their country, in fact, produces a virtuous mechanism with an impact on the wealth of their communities, so our objective is a model of sustainable local development through training, leadership and entrepreneurial culture", she added.

Permanent training, in fact, enables these youths "to become the leaders of the future without fearing the market but rather joining it through education, challenging it by using opportunities and learning how to make the best of them. We accompany them in a journey of personal development, improving the quality of life," she said.

Calleri emphasized the need for real change, challenging the perception that Europe and America are the promised lands. After experiencing Africa's beauty, she questioned the prevailing notion, citing the continent's potential for sustainable economic development based on education. "Our initiative provides a sustainable response to the contemporary tragedy of illegal migration through training, leadership, and entrepreneurial culture," she concluded.

Author: Valentina Maresca