A hybrid edtech training program combining a local-language e-learning application for digital and business courses with in-person soft-skills workshops
The hybrid training program for the digital inclusion of young women is designed to deliver a dynamic and comprehensive learning experience, combining interactive online courses with in-person workshops. This innovative pedagogical approach aims to equip learners with essential digital marketing skills while providing personalized support to ensure their success.
Local-language e-learning courses accessible via smartphone, in-person soft-skills workshops, and work-study placements with women entrepreneurs
Grow Academy offers a hybrid training program designed to promote the digital inclusion of young women. The curriculum, titled “Digital Marketing,” is validated through a Certificate of Specialization (CS) and delivers in-depth technical training in this field.
Alongside the technical curriculum, learners also receive pre-professional training focused on soft skills, aimed at strengthening behavioral competencies and management capabilities required to operate as micro-entrepreneurs.
The training and employment-integration cycle lasts eighteen (18) months and is structured as follows:
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Self-paced online courses
Learners have access to an online learning platform offering courses in their local language, accessible via smartphone. This format allows them to follow training modules at their own pace, with full flexibility to accommodate their personal schedules.
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Weekly in-person workshops
Each week, learners participate in an in-person workshop dedicated to developing pre-professional and interpersonal skills, including self-confidence, storytelling, project management, and entrepreneurship. These workshops are facilitated by previous cohorts and Grow Academy managers, who bring deep expertise in business, soft skills, and technology. Practical sessions are also organized around tools and disciplines such as coding, boxing, audiovisual production, graphic design, and digital marketing.
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Work-study placements in micro-enterprises
Learners are placed in work-study arrangements within local women-led micro-enterprises and women’s collectives, based on their availability. They contribute to digitalization missions while acquiring essential entrepreneurial skills and building close relationships with these groups and the women who lead them. This hands-on experience enables learners to understand real-world working environments and develop practical entrepreneurial know-how.
The primary objective of this training phase is to enable learners to consolidate the skills required to deliver their first professional outputs in immersive, real-world settings. Through work-study placements within micro-enterprises, learners are exposed to concrete professional environments where they can apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills, strengthening both their technical competence and professional readiness.
A learning model built on passing knowledge from one cohort to the next
Grow Academy has implemented a pedagogical approach based on intergenerational knowledge transmission and mentorship, designed to deliver a comprehensive and relevant learning experience for young women in training. Over an 18-month period, learners follow a specialized digital marketing curriculum, validated through a Certificate of Specialization, and receive pre-professional training focused on behavioral skills and small-scale business management.
The mentorship phase, which takes place during the final nine months of the program, enables experienced learners to become mentors for incoming cohorts. They share their knowledge and lived experience, guiding new learners through their journey and helping them overcome the challenges they may encounter.
This pedagogical approach encourages collaboration and interactivity, fostering a dynamic learning environment. Mentors play a central role in effectively transferring practical know-how, thereby accelerating the learning process for participants. This dynamic also strengthens self-confidence, develops interpersonal skills, and prepares learners to work productively in team-based professional settings.
Grow Academy’s teacherless learning model further supports the creation of a strong, supportive community. Learners build close relationships with their mentors and peers, forming a valuable professional network that provides ongoing support and opportunities for career development.
The innovative pedagogy of Grow Academy, grounded in intergenerational knowledge transmission and mentorship, enables learners to acquire technical digital marketing skills while simultaneously developing behavioral competencies and the capacity to manage small-scale enterprises. This collaborative approach promotes effective learning, builds confidence, and facilitates successful professional integration.