UNDP YES Project

From Bangladesh’s Largest Slum to the Biggest Global Freelancing Marketplaces

“The initiative successfully met and surpassed targets for computer application use for the students.”

Quoted in UNDP Portfolio, UNDP Innovation Facility, Year In Review, 2015 on 2015 Korail Slum Project with CodersTrust.

CONTEXT

Due to socio-economic background, young people living in urban slums faces numerous barriers to career success, including limited access to quality education, inadequate training and skills development, discrimination, and limited exposure to diverse career options and networking opportunities. In 2017, CodersTrust collaborated with UNDP, Bangladesh Government, and Swanirvar Bangladesh to offer skill development training to disadvantaged students residing in the largest slum of Dhaka, the Korail Slum with 200,000 dewellers.

CHALLENGES

CODERSTRUST SOLUTION

Low motivation to participate in training programs rather than doing day labor jobs They lack basic
They lack basic resources such as electricity, computer devices and limited financial capacity
Students had no computer literacy and communication skills
Due to language barrier, the students were unable to communicate with clients in English
Lack of follow-up support and career mentorship: Once the training program is completed, participants may struggle to find employment opportunities to start their own career