Onja’s mission is to propel brilliant young minds in the world’s poorest countries to access equal education and real career opportunities. It is targeting disadvantaged youth with the most potential, and the really unique part is that these very people will sustain the whole organisation in the future. HOW ONJA WORKS
Recruit: Onja identifies motivated young people who are extraordinarily intelligent but who don't have the chance to realise their potential, and in many cases don't have the means to finish high school. Staff meet with their families, explain the details of the education and employment social enterprise, and offer them a place in the program. Educate: Once identified and accepted, students will move to Onja's boarding school and complete a two-year education program of English and computer programming. While at Onja's school, students will be receive free room and board, education and life-changing experiences. Outsource: Upon completion of Onja's education program, graduates will be strong English speaking coders, and will begin working for Onja’s outsourcing enterprise, developing software for international clients. From the outsourcing enterprise Onja itself generates an income, which will be used to cover all of its costs and educate additional students. The outsourcing work completed by a single Onja graduate will generate enough income for Onja to educate a further 7 students. IN NUMBERS
$1.90 Onja is targeting young people from the 80% of Malagasy people below the international poverty line, living on less than $1.90 per day.
1% They may not have money, but they have intelligence. Onja’s students will represent the brightest 1% of young minds.
25 Once working, Onja graduates will earn 25 times the salary they otherwise would have earned.
100% 100% of Onja’s income will be used to cover its costs and educate additional students.
7:1 The outsourcing work completed by a single Onja graduate will generate enough income for Onja to educate a further 7 students. WHY CODING
Coding, or computer programming may seem like an odd career path for some of the world's poorest people, but when one considers the rise of globalization and improvements in technology, it starts to make sense. The reality is there are not enough computer programmers in the world, and global demand means that large companies are turning to outsourcing to meet the demand. Coding is a career that, due to its nature, can be done from anywhere in the world. Onja will be a self-sustaining outsourcing enterprise and because the education program will be very low cost compared to the earnings of the outsourcing enterprise, it can grow rapidly and quickly reach thousands of young people in future without relying on future donations. IMPACT
Doing justice to their brilliant minds, Onja will unlock education and secure employment for its students. Suddenly things like warm blankets, menstrual hygiene, education, nutrition, healthcare, financial services, quality housing, sanitation, security, and access to the legal system, (to name just a few) will become affordable for them and their families.
