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Samasource: Equipping young people with market-aligned skills

Impact sourcing and its contribution to the economy

“Impact sourcing and its contribution to the Economy”

Samasource is a technology company focused on training data for artificial intelligence with its sub-Saharan hub located in Kenya. They reach a population that is highly disconnected from formal employment, living in unsafe housing conditions, and struggling with poor nutrition. By providing wrap-around services that ensure that trainees have the resources they need to successfully complete the program and transition to full-time employment, it creates a solid foundation for the next generation to thrive.

According to Ms. Liliosa Mbirimi, the Impact Manager “Samasource is driven by the mission to expand the opportunity to youth at the bottom of the pyramid through digital work. Our founder built this model on the precept that ‘talent is equally distributed, but the opportunity is not.’ Hiring in emerging markets helps support those economies by providing jobs to youth and paying them a wage. Our staff has on average two of dependents and this model allows them to cater to their dependents’ needs.”

“Our staff aged between 18 and 28 are largely sourced from low-income communities. Many of them have not had an opportunity to take up tertiary education because of the minimal opportunities available to them. Samasource serves as a first formal job opportunity for those who were either unemployed or doing informal work that was unsustainable or did not guarantee them a living wage at the end of the month. 52 percent of them are female.”

As part of the Amplify portfolio, Samasource is aiming to improve its soft skills training component to ensure that its trainees are prepared to succeed in interviews and attain stable employment. Additionally, they will be considering opportunities to scale the training program soon.

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