Tech Education—Zina’s Success

When Zina joined WorkWell, she was a fresh university graduate. She had some skills in software and mobile app development. What she didn’t have was a way to use her skills to enter the workforce. 

Zina is a young woman who wants to work in tech. She is from Mosul, an Iraqi city devastated by war, and one that will need decades to fully recover. It wasn’t so long ago, when ISIS took control of Mosul with extreme violence, that women weren’t to be seen outside, mobile phones were banned, and women were certainly not allowed to be part of the tech industry. In fact, women were banned from working and anything connected to tech was crushed!

Zina is part of a generation helping her country to catch up after years lost to violence.

At WorkWell, Zina had the chance to get exposure to a wide range of tech and AI skills. But it was pairing tech classes with lessons in skills that help to enter the workforce that made change for Zina possible.

Skills only have impact if they can be used.

The course structure at WorkWell includes one-to-one office hours for participants—they can book time with instructors to get help on anything they need. In Zina’s case, she was interested in an internship spot at an innovation hub in her city. Her instructor coached her through writing a descriptive CV, creating a LinkedIn profile, and practicing interview skills. 

“I think this course will give me the skills and knowledge I require to progress toward a programming position, and I am willing to do this,” Zina shared with us.

By the time Zina interviewed for the internship position, she was ready. Zina passed the interview and eventually landed the position. 

Before WorkWell, “the tech workforce” could have been a country a million miles away—that’s how difficult it seemed to find a job. But now Zina is on her way. She’s taken her first steps into a field that she loves. And younger women and girls in her community get to have a role model—proof that it is in fact possible for a woman from Mosul to work in tech.

“Things have been going well in my new role. The English and Business IT training I received has been a great help in my position. It’s given me the skills and confidence I needed, and I’m happy to share that my journey is almost complete,” Zina shared recently.

The kind of change that Zina experienced is a tangible form of hope. She gained skills that unlocked the way into the local workforce. She is able to continue learning and move closer to her dream job of a programming position. This is important for Zina, but it’s also important for her community. With every step forward, Zina dismantles the legacy ISIS left behind, and makes space for younger girls to join her in a rewarding career.