The Intel Foundation invests in refugees

On February 12th, 2018, the Intel Foundation donated $1 million to the International Rescue Committee to help arm refugees with coding skills. This will allow the company to help 1,000 German-based refugees find tech jobs.

The Foundation has designed a program called Project CORE (Creating Opportunities for Refugee Employment), in which they collaborate with other local actors to train and equip instructors at several existing job placement organizations. They also provide them with specifically tailored lessons plans and aim to match graduates with jobs at up to 25 companies within the country.

Training partners emerge from different sectors of the industry. One is a government-run job center, another is a social enterprise that wants to train vulnerable populations, and a third is a private training center, all of which will have different existing job networks in addition to Intel’s deep Rolodex.

The Intel approach

For Intel, the mission isn’t just to groom more qualified workers, but also to ensure the next generation of innovators is diverse, inclusive, and empowered.

Intel has launched other programs to reach disadvantaged kids in both Las Vegas and India, so there’s some blueprint as to how these efforts might evolve; the group’s Future Skills program has developed curriculum for “design thinking and new technologies, such as 3D design, drone/hybrid courses”.  Trainees won’t necessarily be limited to just Germany-based jobs either. Having strong computer skills means that refugees who have other commitments at home or need flexible hours can join international companies or the gig economy. Even if no one worked remote, though, there are enough jobs for everyone in Germany.

Source: Fast Company