About Passerelles numériques

History

Throughout the world, far too many underprivileged yet capable young people cannot access higher education and therefore remain trapped in poverty. In Cambodia, out of 300.000 young people born every year, 20 000 reach University level and only 2.000 attain qualified professional employment.

With the vision of a world where through access to education and employment, the most underprivileged can use their talent to reach a better future, Passerelles numériques strives to enable the largest number of young people in a precarious situation to access training leading to a qualified job in the Information Technologies sector. Since 2005, with the support of major actors in the IT field, such as Accenture, Microsoft, HP and Econocom, we have developed in Phnom Penh an IT training center matching market needs for underprivileged young Cambodians.

Achievements

Built on five principles; Fair and rigorous selection, Solid technical and practical training, General training in business skills and values, Social and educational development and Guidance to employment, this project has reached large successes;

•     261 students (out of 280) completed a 2-year IT technician training, and 100% of graduates have found a qualified job with 3-5 times the national average salary, enabling them to support a whole family and filling 20 – 30% of the IT technicians positions needed in the country each year.
•     175 students (out  of 175) completed the 6-month “Data management operator” training and were  hired in the work-study program of the social business Digital Divide Data.

Based on this flexible and reproducible social integration model developed in Cambodia, similar projects have been launched in Cebu (Philippines) in 2009 and in Da Nang (Vietnam) in 2010. 350 students are currently being trained by Passereles numériques in these three countries. These projects help fill the digital gap, empowering large numbers of new IT users and fostering a more balanced development inclusive of remote areas.