By Ali Salim Abdalla YES ’22
I recently led the Lamu Future Ready Digital Bootcamp, an initiative aimed at equipping young people with essential digital and career-ready skills. In today’s world, being digitally competent and prepared for the workforce is no longer optional it is the minimum requirement for accessing opportunities and creating sustainable futures.
The idea for this bootcamp began during my time in my hosting community, where I was first introduced to fundamental digital skills. This experience, along with mentorship and participation in the Cyber Patriots Club at my host school, inspired me to combine these digital skills with my background in Economics and Finance. I realized that positioning young individuals with both digital and economic knowledge could unlock self-sufficient opportunities and prepare them for the real world.
When the bootcamp launched, college-going participants engaged in hands-on activities such as digital literacy, freelancing, resume and cover letter writing, and creating LinkedIn profiles. These activities helped the students directly connect their current education to practical skills and future career plans, giving them confidence to navigate the professional world.
One of the highlights of the bootcamp was a visit from Mohammed Athman of Ajira Digital, who shared insights into the digital economy and its opportunities. His mentorship helped demystify the digital job market and showed the participants that these opportunities are accessible, especially for young people at college and university levels.
The bootcamp’s impact went beyond the documents and profiles created it was reflected in the confidence, motivation, and clarity that the participants gained. It reinforced the importance of mentorship, emotional support, and networking in preparing the next generation for a digitally-driven future.
This experience confirmed that a personal journey of learning can grow into a community-focused initiative, empowering young people with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital world.
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