A fast-growing IT-platform providing vocational training combined with a employer-engagement programme

Solution
Helm Academy
Organization
Helm
Country of Implementation
Egypt
Region
Africa
Subregion
MENA
Start Year
2021
First published
03.12.2024

Helm in Egypt launched Helm Academy, offering vocational training in Arabic and English. By mid-2024, 8,000 individuals were trained, with 40% securing employment within six months.

A large, diverse group of people, including those in wheelchairs, gather to celebrate a graduation event organized by Helm Academy. The inclusive setting features people in formal and casual attire, radiating a sense of achievement and support for accessible education and employment opportunities.
The Helm Academy provides fully accessible vocational training in both Arabic and English.

Solution details

People

Islam El-Rakhawy Website
“Helm Academy’s mission is to redefine what is possible for persons with disabilities. By providing accessible, high-quality training, we’re not only equipping individuals with skills but also fostering a culture where diversity is celebrated, and every talent finds its place.” Amena El Saie, Co-founder and CEO, Helm

Helm, a national social enterprise based in Cairo, has launched the Helm Academy – an IT platform that provides fully accessible vocational and job-preparedness training, offering content in both Arabic and English. Additionally, Helm educates employers on creating supportive workplaces. By mid-2024 the Helm Academy is projected to have a library of 100 course modules and to have trained some 8,000 individuals across Egypt. Notably, 40 per cent of all graduates secure employment within six months.

Problems Targeted

There is a notable deficiency in accessible vocational training and job-preparedness programmes for individuals with disabilities in Egypt.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Helm Academy is a social enterprise headquartered in Cairo that has facilitated greater accessibility for persons with disabilities for numerous public and private organizations through its accessibility services. Half of Helm’s workforce consists of persons with disabilities, who bring diverse personal and professional expertise in fields such as technology, operations, human resources, business development, learning and development, and accessibility. In 2021, Helm launched an accessible ICT platform dedicated to vocational and job-preparedness training and aimed at empowering persons with disabilities by equipping them with essential skills and knowledge required for success in the job market. Helm Academy provides 100 course modules encompassing various vocational skills, job-preparedness training, and soft skills development. These courses are offered in both Arabic and English, with materials available in multiple formats including Easy Read, Braille, and audio. Upon successful completion of the programme candidates receive a digital certificate, and a graduation ceremony is held for SEED graduates, attended by the Minister of Social Solidarity. Of the 8,000 individuals graduated to date, 44 per cent were women.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Helm Academy’s revenue streams are generated from providing services to major corporations such as Vodafone and Nestlé, as well as through sponsorships from the U.S. Agency for International Development and United Nations agencies. Over the next three to five years, the academy intends to pursue significant expansion beyond Egypt, focusing on the Middle East region, with recent initiatives already underway in Jordan and ongoing discussions in Saudi Arabia. There are also plans to expand the library to over 500 modules, thereby offering a much wider range of programmes. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Media

Pictures

A large, diverse group of people, including those in wheelchairs, gather to celebrate a graduation event organized by Helm Academy. The inclusive setting features people in formal and casual attire, radiating a sense of achievement and support for accessible education and employment opportunities. The Helm Academy provides fully accessible vocational training in both Arabic and English.
A large, diverse group of people, including those in wheelchairs, gather to celebrate a graduation event organized by Helm Academy. The inclusive setting features people in formal and casual attire, radiating a sense of achievement and support for accessible education and employment opportunities. The Helm Academy provides fully accessible vocational training in both Arabic and English.

Related information

Connections
2

Solutions with the same:

Country of Implementation

Egypt

Region of Implementation

Africa