The Zaio Institute of Technology has been actively working towards empowering African youth through technology, by providing them with a comprehensive tech-focused curriculum designed to equip them with practical, job-ready skills in fields such as software development, data science, and cyber security.
The organisation was founded in South Africa in 2017, with a mission to bridge the digital skills gap in the country and improve youth employability through its tech-focused education.
- Established in 2017
- Provides 100% online, accredited coding bootcamps between six to seven months duration
- Trains an estimated 600 to 800 youth per year
- Has a high completion rate of 81%
Zaio CEO Mvelo Hlophe emphasizes that the organisation’s core goals are to bridge the digital skills gap in SA, improve youth employability by offering career-aligned tech education, and democratise access to quality coding education regardless of background.
“Our core goals are to bridge the digital skills gap in SA, improve youth employability by offering career-aligned tech education and democratise access to quality coding education regardless of background,” says Zaio CEO Mvelo Hlophe.
Zaio’s online coding bootcamps are designed to be flexible and accessible from anywhere in South Africa. The organisation offers a variety of programming courses, including software development, data science, and cyber security, all of which are 100% online.
These bootcamps are designed to equip young people with practical, job-ready skills in a short duration of six to seven months. All programmes are 100% online, making them accessible from anywhere in South Africa.
The graduates of Zaio’s coding programme have been placed in jobs across South Africa within the first two months of 2025. The graduates have been placed in jobs across sectors, including banks (First National Bank and Absa), non-profits and foundations (Girl Hype and Africa Inspired Foundation), and consulting and start-up firms (Ecolabs and Torho Technologies).
| Company | Job Role |
|---|---|
| First National Bank and Absa | Junior Software Developer, Data Analyst |
| Girl Hype and Africa Inspired Foundation | Junior Data Scientist |
| Ecolabs and Torho Technologies | Front-end Developer |
Zaio has a placement team and industry partnerships, providing career support services such as CV prep, mock interviews, LinkedIn optimisation, and prospective employer partnerships with start-ups and established tech companies. The organisation also has formal collaborations with placement partners and recruitment platforms to increase post-bootcamp opportunities. “The 103 young coders who completed last year were placed in jobs across South Africa within the first two months of 2025,” says Zaio CEO Mvelo Hlophe.
According to Hlophe, the graduates have been placed in jobs across sectors, including banking, non-profits, and consulting firms. Their current roles include junior software developer, data analyst, junior data scientist, and front-end developers.
Zaio has a placement team and industry partnerships, providing career support services such as CV prep, mock interviews, LinkedIn optimisation, and prospective employer partnerships with start-ups and established tech companies.
