Empowering Futures through Digital Skills

When Rima first started thinking about gig work, she had no idea where to begin. "I had zero experience in how to work on LinkedIn, and I only had my name on Upwork — so it was really strange. I was really looking for that exact opportunity." Originally from Syria, Rima joined our Profile to Gig in 30 Days program and her story captures exactly what this project exists to do: turn isolation and uncertainty into a clear, practical path toward income.

Building on that program's success, Q2 2026 saw the launch of a new, more intensive offering: Profile to Gig in 15 Days. The first cohort welcomed 12 participants (55% male, 45% female), and 3 graduates have already completed the program. Each graduate moves directly into a personalized career pathway, including individual sessions with our social mediator, as they actively prepare their Upwork profiles and take their first steps toward paid work. 

That personalized support is part of a bigger picture: our ongoing Career Counselling program. Since the start of 2026, we've conducted 121 one-on-one sessions supporting 43 participants (51% women), helping people translate their skills into clear, confident next steps in the digital economy.

This quarter, we launched our 2025 Social Impact Report through a campaign on our social media platforms, sharing the milestones, outcomes, and — most importantly — the human stories behind our work with our community and supporters. We were also deeply honored to receive the Andan Alumni Award for Excellence in Refugee Inclusion, recognizing organizations making a measurable difference in refugees' lives through dignified economic opportunity. This award belongs as much to our participants as to our team.

We also opened doors to a brand-new opportunity: the Beginners Medical Annotation Training, a 12-week, fully online program launching June 29, 2026, that gives participants a pathway into one of the fastest-growing areas of AI work. Combining self-paced modules with live sessions, and backed by a completion stipend, the program connects graduates directly to paid annotation projects through Humans in the Loop — an organization that has already supported over 1,700 people and distributed more than $1.5 million to workers worldwide.

Finally, we're inviting you to join us on July 1st for Ethical Vendor Partnerships: Co-Creating Fair Digital Work That Scales, an online conversation featuring voices from FairWork, Intel's Responsible AI program, and our own Humans in the Loop leadership team — exploring what accountability really looks like across the AI value chain.
[Registration link: https://lnkd.in/dtTtKXME ]

Thank you for making stories like Rima's possible.

Links:

• Read our full 2025 Social Impact report

This quarter, we proudly celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of the AI Innovator Pathway Program, delivered in partnership with Subul.

What began with 641 expressions of interest evolved into a highly selective and rigorous journey. Over 100 HR interviews were conducted to identify candidates with the motivation, resilience, and potential to thrive in an intensive learning environment. 

Over several intensive months, 20 participants engaged in a practice-driven curriculum covering AI-powered development, applied AI, cloud and DevOps fundamentals, design thinking, and professional communication. The program was intentionally designed to move beyond theory, equipping learners with skills aligned with real industry needs.

The outcomes were strong. Attendance exceeded 90% throughout the program, reflecting sustained engagement and commitment. Participants completed capstone projects focused on real-world AI applications, demonstrating their ability to translate learning into practical solutions. Feedback from trainers and partners highlighted both technical progress and growing professional confidence.

Beyond technical skills, the most meaningful shift was personal and professional transformation. Graduates emerged as AI-ready professionals — able to think product-first, collaborate effectively, and communicate confidently in global environments. This milestone marks not an end point, but the beginning of a new phase of career development and opportunity.

Building on our focus on employability and access to dignified work, we are preparing to launch a new practical initiative: Profile to Gig in 30 Days.

This four-week program is designed to help participants position themselves strategically for online gig work through optimized professional profiles, clear specialization, and realistic platform strategies. Rather than targeting highly saturated freelance markets, the program focuses on annotation-related contracts and virtual assistant roles — areas with consistent demand and more accessible entry points.

Participants will strengthen their presence on LinkedIn and Upwork while also exploring additional platforms that do not rely on paid bidding systems. The goal is practical: to equip graduates with actionable pathways to secure income-generating opportunities without heavy upfront costs.

As our programs expand, we remain committed to ensuring that our work continues to reflect the lived experiences of the communities we serve. We are currently finalizing the recruitment of new members for our Beneficiary Advisory Board (BAB), which plays a vital role in guiding program design, strengthening accountability, and maintaining community-centered decision-making.