AWS Re/Start Free Cloud Skills Training Program Expands to MENA

Today, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) announced the launch of the AWS re/Start cloud skills training program in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to help unemployed and underemployed people in MENA build cloud computing skills, and then connect them with employment opportunities at local employers. The first cohorts are taking place in Egypt, Lebanon, and Tunisia, followed by Bahrain in the coming months and additional countries across MENA in 2022. The AWS re/Start MENA program launch is part of Amazon’s effort to provide 29 million people around the world with access to free technology skills training by 2025 through various programs, including AWS re/Start.

The AWS re/Start program helps prepare participants for entry-level cloud computing roles. It’s a free, full-time, 12-week program for unemployed and underemployed people, and a technology background is not required to apply. The training provides skills training in cloud technologies, career and resume coaching, and opportunities to interview with local employers. With the support of professional mentors and accredited instructors, participants build technology skills such as programming, networking, security, and relational databases through real-world scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, and coursework.

To deliver training to the first cohorts, AWS is collaborating with key institutions. In Egypt, AWS is working with the Information Technology Institute (ITI) and IKEN Technology. In Lebanon, training will be delivered by Ruwwad Al Tanmeya. In Tunisia, training will be delivered by RBK Tunisia, and in Bahrain, by ThinkSmart.

The program also prepares and covers the cost for participants to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. The certification validates their cloud skills with an industry-recognized credential. On completion of the program, participants can apply for entry-level cloud roles in cloud operations, site reliability, infrastructure support, and technical adjacent business support functions.

Tejas Vashi, Global Team Lead for AWS re/Start, said, “We’ve long believed in the power of skills training to positively impact people’s lives, and we are excited to extend the program to the MENA region, where we continue to invest in a variety of training programs. AWS re/Start prepares unemployed and underemployed people for careers in cloud computing. It also provides organizations in the region with a pipeline of local, entry-level cloud computing talent. As cloud adoption continues to grow in MENA, we look forward to expanding the program to more countries and helping to bridge the gap for in-demand cloud skills.”

The AWS re/Start program has been actively expanding around the world since it launched globally in 2019. The program is now in 52 cities across 25 countries—and counting. To learn more about AWS re/Start and other free AWS training, visit aws.amazon.com/training/restart.