IT Academy — planned tech skills, real portfolios, future jobs
We are planning an EU-based IT Academy where war-affected teens and disabled veterans can train for in-demand digital roles and graduate with mentor-reviewed portfolios. Your support helps turn this vision from a blueprint into a real learning pathway for people whose education and careers were disrupted by war.
Why this matters
Millions of people displaced by war across Europe face interrupted schooling, long gaps in work history, disability, and the need to restart their lives in new labour markets. Without access to structured re-skilling, especially in digital fields, many remain excluded from today’s economy and dependent on short-term aid instead of building independent futures.
Around the world, digital-skills programs for refugees and conflict-affected youth have shown that focused training can lead to real opportunities: in some initiatives, over 40% of participants secured online jobs after digital-work training, while intensive coding courses report high internship and job integration rates for graduates. These results are not guaranteed and depend on context, but they prove that high-quality tech education can be a realistic pathway to self-reliance.
Our planned IT Academy builds on these lessons. It is designed specifically for war-affected youth and disabled veterans, combining practical tech skills, trauma-aware teaching, and portfolio-based outcomes to improve their chances of entering the digital economy.
What we plan to teach
Web3 & Blockchain fundamentals
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Skills (planned): introduction to blockchain concepts, smart contracts basics (Solidity), wallets and transaction safety, DeFi and security-by-design fundamentals.
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Capstone (planned): a simple dApp prototype (e.g. basic NFT minting or access token) with a security and ethics checklist.
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Target roles (indicative): junior Web3 developer assistant, community/tools support, or digital product support — not guaranteed, but aligned with early-career paths in this field.
AI & Machine Learning basics
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Skills (planned): Python fundamentals, data preparation, responsible prompting, using and lightly customizing small models, and basic AI ethics.
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Capstone (planned): a simple AI assistant (e.g. classifier or retrieval-based helper) with an evaluation report and documentation.
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Target roles (indicative): data/AI assistant, automation support, or junior analyst support, depending on local labour markets and learner progress.
Game Design & Esports foundations
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Skills (planned): prototyping in engines like Unity or Godot, basic 2D/3D asset pipelines, gameplay balancing, and team playbooks for esports contexts.
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Capstone (planned): a playable vertical slice plus an itch.io page or equivalent public project page.
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Target roles (indicative): QA/game support, junior designer, or community/game operations — with a focus on transferable skills such as teamwork and digital production.
Cybersecurity & Digital Safety
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Skills (planned): threat modelling, password and network hygiene, safe use of cloud services, privacy basics (including GDPR awareness), and blue-team style labs.
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Capstone (planned): a security hardening guide and a simulated incident response exercise for a small organisation or NGO scenario.
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Target roles (indicative): SOC/junior analyst support, IT support, or digital safety focal points in NGOs or community projects.
NFTs & the Creative Digital Economy
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Skills (planned): tokenisation basics, IP and copyright fundamentals, platform operations, and responsible go-to-market for digital collections.
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Capstone (planned): a micro-collection launch with a basic sales and analytics report, ideally connected to creative IP such as Paradox Nova.
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Target roles (indicative): digital content operations, web coordinator, or support roles in creative digital projects.
In our planned model, every graduate will defend a capstone project and leave with a GitHub or portfolio site that has been reviewed by mentors, giving them tangible proof of skills for internships, junior roles, or freelance work.
Help us launch the Academy
IT Academy roadmap
Every milestone in this roadmap is a planned step toward welcoming the first students and opening a new pathway of tech-based recovery for war survivors.
Facility & online setup
Adapt inclusive classrooms and build a secure online platform to support hybrid learning from day one, with accessibility and data protection as core requirements.
Hardware & software
Deliver and install high-performance PCs, laptops, and licensed development tools, ensuring that learners who cannot afford their own devices can still participate.
Teachers & mentors
Train a multidisciplinary team in trauma-aware teaching and hands-on tech instruction, and build a mentor network that can offer realistic guidance on careers and freelancing.
First student cohort begins
Once funding and preparation are in place, launch in-person and remote courses where students complete real projects and graduate with portfolios they can show to employers.