LEAP

Ready to Bloom Inc.

LEAP

LEAP is a dynamic online platform that empowers Africa’s youth with hands-on IT skills and job opportunities to drive lasting economic transformation.

Kyoto, Japan

JPN

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

In Africa, the unemployment rate among university graduates exceeds 70%, with many young people completing higher education yet still facing limited job opportunities. High school graduates are often unable to attend university due to financial constraints, leaving them without the skills or qualifications needed for stable employment. Even those who attend university often graduate without the practical skills employers demand. This creates a structural issue where education does not translate into employment, leading to underemployment and wasted potential. In Rwanda alone, over 300,000 people lack job-relevant skills, and across Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 36 million people face similar challenges. The core issue is the disconnect between educational systems, which focus on theoretical knowledge, and the skills required in the job market. This gap prevents young people from accessing the opportunities education should provide, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and unemployment. LEAP bridges this gap by offering practical IT training and essential soft skills, providing young Africans with the tools to secure sustainable employment and break free from poverty.

LEAP is an online platform that empowers young Africans by providing them with practical IT and soft skills training, preparing them for stable employment. It combines personalized e-learning with job placement features, ensuring students not only gain essential skills but also real-world experience. How it works: Step 1: LEAP offers customized e-learning courses in high-demand IT skills like software development, low-code development, data entry, and annotation. Students build portfolios and track their progress throughout the courses. Step 2: After training, LEAP provides real-world demo programs based on actual client projects, allowing students to apply their skills, receive feedback, and improve performance, ensuring they are job-ready. Step 3: LEAP’s job matching feature connects students with businesses seeking skilled workers. The platform automatically matches students with relevant job opportunities, enabling smooth transitions from education to employment. LEAP fosters collaboration between students, instructors, and employers. Through communication tools, students receive guidance, and employers can track their progress to ensure readiness for the workforce.

LEAP serves young people in Africa, particularly university and high school graduates who face significant barriers to employment. Many of these individuals have completed their education but struggle to secure stable jobs due to a lack of practical, job-ready skills. With high unemployment rates—over 70% for university graduates in countries like Rwanda—and an overall shortage of skilled workers, they are often left underserved in the labor market. LEAP directly addresses these challenges by providing accessible, tailored IT and soft skills training, equipping students with the practical knowledge they need to succeed in today's job market. The platform not only helps them develop in-demand technical skills like software development and data entry, but also focuses on soft skills that employers seek, such as communication and teamwork. Through LEAP’s job matching feature, students are connected with relevant job opportunities, ensuring they can apply their newly acquired skills in real-world settings. By providing both training and job placement support, LEAP helps break the cycle of unemployment, empowering young Africans to build sustainable careers and achieve financial independence.