Eight-month vocational training programme for young deaf people to become Apple software developers

Solution
Deaf Developers Programme
Organization
iSchoolAfrica Education Trust
Country of Implementation
South Africa
Region
Africa
Subregion
Subsaharan Africa
Start Year
2022
First published
03.12.2024

iSchoolAfrica in South Africa started Deaf Developers in 2022, training youth in iOS development. By 2024, 7 of 8 graduates were employed, some teaching coding to deaf students.

A diverse group of individuals, both men and women, gather on stage with a backdrop that reads “iSchool Africa Deaf Developers.” They proudly gesture in sign language, signifying unity and pride in their achievements. This image underscores the celebration of educational accomplishments among the Deaf community and emphasizes equal opportunities in technology.
Graduates of the Deaf Developers Programme are trained to code using Apple's iOS.

Solution details

People

Michelle Lissoos Website
“We hope that biases are broken down for the employment of future youth with disabilities.” Michelle Lissoos, Director, iSchoolAfrica Education Trust

The iSchoolAfrica Education Trust is a social enterprise that promotes educational technology and digital skills in underserved South African schools. In 2022 the trust started the Deaf Developers Programme, an eight-month course for deaf youth to learn iOS development using Apple’s Develop in Swift curriculum, along with work readiness modules, internships, and real-life projects. By 2024 seven of the eight pilot graduates were employed, with some teaching coding at schools for deaf children.

Problems Targeted

A significant number of young individuals with disabilities are neither in education nor employment, despite a high demand for young professionals possessing IT development skills.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

iSchoolAfrica Education Trust is a non-profit organization that brings educational technology and digital skills to underserved schools in South Africa. The trust offers access to Apple technology, teacher training, and various learning programmes for educators, learners, and trainees in marginalized communities. In 2022, iSchoolAfrica launched the Deaf Developers Programme, an eight-month online and in-person programme for deaf youth to become iOS developers. The course is based on Apple’s Develop in Swift curriculum, a comprehensive and free programme that teaches how to build apps using Apple’s programming language, Swift. The courses have the Apple and South Africa’s SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) accreditation, and iSchool Africa also aims to align with the global SFIA framework. The iSchool programme includes work readiness modules, and deaf youth are also given real-world app development projects and paid internships to ensure integration. For employers, iSchoolAfrica provides training on how to integrate employees with disabilities into the workplace. Out of its first cohort of eight, by 2024 seven were employed, and three of the deaf developers also worked for the iSchoolAfrica School Coding Programme, going into schools for deaf children to teach coding and act as role models for youth with disabilities. The next cohort is scheduled for 2025.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

iSchoolAfrica is funded by corporate sponsors, including The Core Group and the South African Breweries Foundation. The project started with deaf students studying at its own facility and has expanded to include coding courses in schools for the deaf. Currently, there are plans for a second course in 2025 and to extend the programme to other disabilities. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Media

Pictures

A diverse group of individuals, both men and women, gather on stage with a backdrop that reads “iSchool Africa Deaf Developers.” They proudly gesture in sign language, signifying unity and pride in their achievements. This image underscores the celebration of educational accomplishments among the Deaf community and emphasizes equal opportunities in technology. Graduates of the Deaf Developers Programme are trained to code using Apple's iOS.
A diverse group of individuals, both men and women, gather on stage with a backdrop that reads “iSchool Africa Deaf Developers.” They proudly gesture in sign language, signifying unity and pride in their achievements. This image underscores the celebration of educational accomplishments among the Deaf community and emphasizes equal opportunities in technology. Graduates of the Deaf Developers Programme are trained to code using Apple's iOS.

Related information

Connections
2

Solutions with the same:

Country of Implementation

South Africa

Region of Implementation

Africa