Coding and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good: Skills & Employability for vulnerable young people in Spain

Coding and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good

Completed

The commitment aims at increasing target youth groups' employability by equipping them with on-demand digital skills.

The commitment focuses on 1) supporting educators to gain fundamental knowledge in Artificial Intelligence (AI); 2) implementing initiatives on using AI as a solution for improving education and livelihoods of persons with disabilities; 3) delivering training for young people in AI skills.

Target groups of the commitment include:

Young workers and unemployed youth aged 25 to 35
Youth in school and unemployed youth aged 16 to 24
Teachers and e-facilitators at digital training centres

This commitment is part of:

YouthSpark: Digital Skills and Computer Science

Entity

Fundación Esplai Ciudadanía Comprometida Youth organization, civil society, non-governmental, non-profit organization

Technical assistance, expertise and implementation

Partners

Fundesplai
Youth organization, civil society, non-governmental, non-profit organization
Technical assistance, expertise and implementation
Microsoft
Private sector
Financial and/or in-kind contribution

Sustainable Development Goals & targets

4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture's contribution to sustainable development

5.5 Ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
5.b Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women

8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

Achievement At Glance

As a novelty, the project has incorporated during its implementation an important mass of volunteers from Microsoft Iberica who have carried out mentoring work very important for the accompaniment to the employment of young people. We have also had the opportunity to explain the project in a European context such as the ALL DIGITAL Summit in Prague: https://all-digital.org/adsummit/

Key Highlight On Guiding Principle

We have generated 2 specific programmes for the promotion of STEAM among adolescent girls.
We work closely with companies and administrations for the design of training programmes.
Facilitating access to content and opportunities for private certification

description

The commitment is carried out through activities based on a three-level pyramid model: dissemination and promotion of digital literacy, training pathways towards professional certification and specialization through coding boot camps.

Fundación Esplai provides expertise, training materials, professional guidance and scholarship opportunities for the participants. In collaboration with a network of local organizations, the commitment aims at achieving quantitative and qualitative objectives validated by funders. The commitment provides young people with training, coaching and direct experience in IT companies offering job opportunities to vulnerable youth in sectors of high employment potential.

https://fundacionesplai.org/
https://twitter.com/fundacionesplai
https://es-es.facebook.com/FundacionEsplai/
https://www.instagram.com/fundacionesplai/
https://www2.fundacionesplai.org/conecta-ia/

Deliverables and links to SDG targets

2,400 young people trained in relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, ICT skills and soft skills

5.b Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women

Annually, the commitment will help certify 2400 people, mostly young people, in digital competencies. Our strategy is to make training itineraries in computer science and Artificial Intelligence available to social entities for reaching their target audiences.

BY: Jun 2021
6,000 young people trained in relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, ICT skills and soft skills

8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

Equipping young people with basic digital literacy through training and certification pathways; organizing learning workshops and promoting coding & Artificial Intelligence skills among young people.

BY: Jun 2021
400 young people gained work experience, including through internships and quality apprenticeships

8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

Organizing specialized boot camps for helping young people improve their digital skills for career reorientation. Connecting trained young people with technology companies for achieving at least 60% job placements upon completion of the trainings.

BY: Jun 2021

Start

01-May-2020

End

30-Jun-2021

USD 100,000

Estimated total value of the commitment

8,900

young people to benefit directly from this commitment

Target: All ages 15-19, 20-24, 25-29

Primarily:

Young people in urban areas
Young people in rural areas
Young women
Young men
Youth with disabilities
Specific ethnic groups
Low-income individuals
Non-low income individuals
Young people with low levels of education and/or drop-outs
Graduates of second-level education and students in third-level education or beyond

Challenges faced in implementation

Among the main challenges faced in the project are the following: The integration of young people with low educational profiles in technology companies. The lack of knowledge in the Third Sector to train in technological specialities. The lack of preparation of trainers and trainers.