Knowledge Space
A space for making opportunities
Location: Iraq
Host: Oxfam Iraq
Developer: Knowledge Space
Invested: $0
Needed: $20,000
Knowledge Space is a digital start-up co-working space to solve unemployment, computer illiteracy, and gender inequality, among others in Iraq.
The Challenge
Unemployment rates in Iraq hover around 10%, and among youth (age 15-24), the rates are even higher at roughly 16% for men and 27% for women. With 60% of Iraq’s population being youth, this is an alarming percentage. Additionally, workforce skills like computer literacy are behind, and large employment areas, like the government, are filled. New industries need to be created to swell the workforce options, and educational development opportunities need to be provided to match skills with jobs.
The Solution Knowledge Space is the first co-working and digital learning center in Kirkuk, Iraq, where science and technology intersect under one goal – to share knowledge. The focus of the hub is to provide technology education to youth in most modern areas such as robotics, programming, and design with the following objectives and activities:
OBJECTIVES
STEM education for youth and kids
Support a startup project
Prepare college graduate for the workforce
Develop Iraqi innovation ecosystem
ACTIVITIES
Digital services
IT solutions like IoT devices and dashboards
Industrial Automation
Developing Web Applications
Digital Transformation
Software Solutions like CRM, ERP, CMS
The target audiences of the Knowledge Space are students, graduates, commercial market place, and hobbyists. Their target approaches are through offering training courses, workshops, hands-on lab providing access to tools and service, organizing events, mentorship, job opportunities, access to 3d printer, CNC machines, and digital services.
The Impact
Highlights To Date:
To date, 15 activities have been organized for children and youth in a variety of topics, including self-empowerment, science, and history.
The Next Stage: Pilot
Practical training for youth and children of Mosul on 3D Modelling, Digital Manufacturing utilizing robotics, and supporting creative development in affected children and youth
The first electronic robot kit for youth in Kirkuk, Iraq to be used as a standard guide for 3D Modelling, Digital Manufacturing and Robotics
The Makerspace will be equipped with both digital and conventional fabrication equipment to allow for a wide range of prototyping and trails.
Kirkuk Knowledge Space team will build the skills of a team of young Iraqi apprentices to continue and spread the work
Workshops established for young people to prototype and produce items for start-ups or small businesses, and for those in the industry to deepen their skills, thus increasing their productivity.
Contact Us
To learn more about this innovation, please email us.
