Microsoft funding to support computer skills education for young people in 55 countries

In September, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced a $75 million investment over the next three years in its YouthSpark initiative, "to increase access to computer science education for all youth, and especially for those from under-represented backgrounds".

Today, Mary Snapp, head of Microsoft Philanthropies, announced that the company is now issuing grants to over 100 nonprofit partners in 55 countries around the world, to further the aims of its YouthSpark program. She said:

...our partners will leverage the power and energy of local schools, businesses and community organizations to create new and engaging opportunities for students to explore computer science. These partners will teach students valuable skills to help them prepare for and succeed in jobs that are open today across industries, along with new jobs that will be created. Our partners will build upon the work that Microsoft already has underway, including our commitments to computer science education through programs like Hour of Code with Code.org,BBC micro:bit and TEALS.

She added that Microsoft and its partners aim "to break down barriers and stereotypes that are keeping large populations of youth out of computer science education — even when the opportunities are available."

Latin American code academy Laboratoria trains young women in web development skills

One such project that will benefit from this new funding is Laboratoria, a Latin American web development academy that focuses on offering opportunities to young women from low-income backgrounds with limited access to education. The code academy trains the women in web development skills, and also helps them to find jobs.

Ana Maria Martinez, regional partner for Laboratoria, said: "I do nothing if I just give out a diploma. We are successful when we connect young women with a company, when they hire her and are satisfied with her performance." Graduates only pay back the cost of their training during their first three years of employment.

Along with the other nonprofits that are benefiting from these YouthSpark grants announced today, Microsoft says that it has focused primarily on working with organizations "with a special emphasis on girls, people from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, and low-income communities".

It hopes that its efforts will help to provide training and work placements in the tech industry for those who would ordinarily struggle to gain access to such opportunities.