Bits Design Academy
What Are Bits Schools?
The Bits Schools—HargaBits, MogaBits, and GaroBits—are pioneering institutions dedicated to providing high-quality digital education in Somaliland, Somalia and Puntland. Established with the vision of empowering youth through ICT-based training, these schools aim to equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
The Bits Academy Program is a one year hands-on training in the field of ICT and Multimedia, where skills in Digital Marketing, Web Development, Graphics and Motion Design are imparted on the youth. The skills make talented young people capable designers and developers in the vibrant ICT industry in the region of the Bits school. Entrepreneurship training supports them to become freelancers and entrepreneurs in their own right. Additionally, the training is blended with life skills which help the youth deal with the most immediate challenges they face in their lives.
The Bits Academy Curriculum
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Digital marketing
This course equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the online marketing landscape. Covering topics such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content creation, and email marketing, the curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively reach and engage target audiences. With hands-on projects and real-world case studies, students gain practical experience in creating and managing digital marketing initiatives, preparing them for careers in marketing, advertising, and brand management.
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Web Design
The Web Development course is divided into two main streams: front-end and back-end development. In the front-end segment, students explore HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create responsive and user-friendly websites. They learn about user experience (UX) design and accessibility principles, ensuring that their web applications cater to a diverse audience.
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Graphic Design
The Digital Design course focuses on the principles of visual communication and creative expression. Students learn to harness industry-standard software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create engaging graphics, logos, and promotional materials. The curriculum emphasizes design thinking, allowing students to approach problems creatively and produce visually compelling solutions. Through hands-on projects, students gain experience in crafting designs for both print and digital media, preparing them for careers in graphic design, advertising, and branding.
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Motion Graphics
In this course, students learn the fundamentals of animation, video editing, and visual storytelling using tools like Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. The curriculum covers topics such as character animation, typography in motion, and special effects, enabling students to produce dynamic content for film, television, and online platforms. This course not only enhances technical skills but also fosters creativity, encouraging students to express their unique storytelling styles through motion graphics.
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Entrepreneurship
Recognizing the importance of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth, this course empowers students to develop their business ideas and launch successful ventures. The curriculum covers essential topics such as business planning, market research, financial management, and marketing strategies. SThis course encourages creativity and critical thinking, equipping students with the skills to innovate and thrive in a competitive market.
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Life Skills
This course is designed as a first step toward helping to prepare youth seeking entry-level jobs for the workplace by developing the skills and knowledge that are essential for success. Entry-level job seekers may enter this pipeline through a number of referral mechanisms. Students participate in workshops and mentorship sessions with experienced entrepreneurs, gaining insights into the challenges and rewards of starting a business.
HargaBits
HargaBits is a youth-based social enterprise that uses ICT multimedia creatively to improve the lives of less privileged youth from the non-formal settlement, and is co-founded by Shaqodoon Organization in partnership with Oxfam Novib. The target population for HargaBits is the youth from the informal settlement areas of Hargeisa, which is a significant portion of the society. These youths are faced with many socio-economic challenges that hinder them from progressing in life and making a meaningful contribution to their societies. Since HargaBits was established, we have seen over 600 students graduate from our all-year course, both through donor-funded programs and through our paid programs. The success of HargaBits can be attested by our graduates, 70% of whom have either gained employment or become self-employed or established business upon completing their course. In 2021, Hargabits Academy was registered with the Ministry of Education in Somaliland as certified diploma provider.
422
Youth equipped employability, entrepreneurship & digital design skills
70
Students educated each year
80%
Placed into jobs where they are using their digital design skills
10%
Started their own business
GaroBits
GaroBits is the first technical vocational skills training center that uses ICT multimedia creatively to improve the lives of less privileged youth from youth in Puntland. GaroBits was established on the success of HargaBits Academy. With the support of EU-RESTORE program, funded by World-Vision, European Union (EU), and SIDA (Sweden), Shaqodoon established GaroBits in 2020. The school has saw eighty-four students graduate with graphic design and web-development training in its first year.
99
Youth equipped employability, entrepreneurship & digital design skills
50
Students educated each year
65%
Placed into jobs where they are using their digital design skills
10%
Started their own business
MogaBits
From the success of the HargaBits initiative, MogaBits was set up in Mogadishu - the capital city of Somalia. The ICT lab has been fully equipped with 20 all-in-one PCs, which we aim to serve 120 students per year. Students will have a variety of courses to benefit from, including Graphic Design (which covers advanced graphic design, motion graphics, business analytics, advanced excel sheet, data visualization, data analysis, and digital marketing). Anyone who wants to get into programming will be equipped with programming language applications such as HTML/CSS, Javascript, PHP language, Python language, Android and iOS apps development, Laravel framework, bootstrap framework, GitHub platform, Database MYSQL, and Microsoft SQL.
HargaBits, GaroBits, & MogaBits - News and Updates
International Digital Design Education
In 1999, Butterfly Works was founded with the launch of the first Bits School: NairoBits. Owing to the level of success, the concept has been replicated to similar settings in other countries. Together we developed a digital design education franchise model, called the Bits Academy. It has resulted in the launch of many more schools based on the model including in Uganda, Pakistan, Nigeria, Somaliland, Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
