Donβt you just love to show your skills and bring creativity to the world? We sure do. We believe the way in which artists create and share their work with the rest of the world is breathtaking, and we encourage everyone to discover and explore their creative streak. Which is why we cherish organizations that support creatives around the world who have limited access to tools and programs that would help them unleash their creativity. And today, we are happy to talk about our partner, Click-On Kaduna.
What is Click-On Kaduna?
Click-On Kaduna is a program to empower young people with digital skills, such as digital art, design, and entrepreneurship. This fact on its own is noteworthy already, but wait until you learn more about the background. In 2017 the unemployment rates increased from 11.92 to 15.99 million affecting the youth the most. Due to its fragility, these rates worsen in Northern Nigeria, where Kaduna State is located. About 75% of the nine million Kaduna State citizens are below the age of 35.
With the ongoing digital transformation, empowering these young people with digital skills will eventually lead to a youth-based and tech-savvy work force in Kaduna State and neighboring States. So the Kaduna State Government launched this program in partnership with the World Bank Group and the Rockefeller Foundation to tap these economic opportunities.
How does Click-On Kaduna support artists?
Click-On Kaduna does not only support artists, but it also encourages (digital) entrepreneurship in general. This gives rise to digital artists and ensures a growing demand for creative outputs. 18-40 year-olds, including women and disadvantaged, have the chance to receive training on different digital skills. Brand graphic design creation is one of them, where we are happy to support the program with our products.
The Click-On Kaduna website introduces several programs for participants. Let’s give you a quick summary.
E-Lance Workshops: Partnership with Digital Naija
These workshops provide digitally-skilled young people with online freelancing opportunities. This way they learn to work independently and flexibly. Especially women, who want or need to juggle family and work, profit from these online freelance arrangements providing them more flexibility and balance. The freelance artists among us will surely understand the resulting improvement in the quality of life, and how much more creativity that brings to our world.
KAD-DIP: Digital Entrepreneurship Incubation Program
What do you need to start and grow your own digital business? The young citizens of Kaduna State will get the answer when they enroll in this program. They will receive trainings and mentorships, team up in peer learning and get access to partnerships and investors. Special activities have been designed to guide and nurture participants in developing ideas to grow their own business. Then, they will need creative advertising material to tell the world who they are, what their company offers and what they stand for. This resulting demand, in turn, will bring more creativity to the world, don’t you think?
Digital Skills Development Program
Applicants can choose between two tracks: Programming & Tech and Digital Marketing, Graphics & Design. When enrolled in the Programming & Tech track, they get to know platforms like Word Press, Joomla or Drupal, they also learn HTML, CSS, PHP/MYSQL, Angular JS, JavaScript and database management. Mastering these skills will make participants proficient in developing websites and mobile app solutions, with which also comes the need for more creativity. Just imagine all the opportunities.
We confess that the Digital Marketing, Graphics & Design track holds a special place for us, for obvious reasons. It is here, where these young participants learn to get creative. On the one hand, they learn about marketing skills and positioning to attract more potential clients e.g. via social media platforms. On the other hand, they learn brand graphic design to create material that helps them do that. This way Click-On Kaduna also helps young people to become digital artists, who then will be able to cover the growing demand for creativity.
How students learn, work and live with Wacom
Wrap up:
If you want to learn about Click-On Kaduna, follow the links below to check out their website and social profiles. If you want to give your support to Click-On Kaduna project and help us raise awareness to the importance of supporting and empowering underprivileged creatives, check out our #giftofgiving movement.
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