Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President once said “Our future success hinges on our ability to embrace AI and use it for good.”
From this perspective we’ve just embarked on ZAKA’s journey, and as 2024 ends, we take a moment to reflect on our progress, reminded of the profound truth in Brad Smith’s words. At ZAKA, we firmly believe in the transformative power of AI to drive positive change and create lasting impact. This belief has been the guiding force behind our work this year, powering our mission to make AI accessible to all, empower communities, and promote education. We’ve directly observed how AI can be a force for good when applied to empower individuals, communities, and industries.
In 2024, we made notable achievements in advancing AI education and innovation. We partnered with Beyond and SDAIA to deliver advanced AI courses, training over 1,200 individuals in Saudi Arabia in Machine Learning (ML) and Large Language Models (LLMs). Our training programs reached across the MENA region, including Qatar, KSA, UAE, and Tunisia, creating a regional learning network that fostered collaboration and knowledge-sharing across a larger network.
Through our collaborations with partners and companies such as the Abdulla Alghurair Foundation, Gastronomica, Kognity, Apliman, DOT Lebanon, Balamand, Beytech, INDEVCO, ProAbled, HEALTECH, CIS College , USJ CFP, Governance Dynamics, Beyond, SADER Legal, and many others, we’ve equipped over 2,500 individuals with the skills necessary to thrive in the AI landscape. These efforts have helped bridge gaps in education and technology while promoting inclusivity and empowering women. Though 2024 has been a year of transformative growth, as we move into the future, ZAKA will continue its dedication to using AI as a powerful tool to create educational opportunities, drive sustainable growth, and foster meaningful social impact.
Advancing Education
This year, we launched several impactful programs designed to empower individuals and industries with advanced AI expertise. We proudly launched five AI Certification cohorts, including the NOMU x Khotwa Project and the NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI program, which together supported 150 Lebanese and 100 Emirati women in the UAE to upskill and pursue careers in AI. Women in AI offers an immersive online program aimed at upskilling Emirati women in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Developed by industry experts, the curriculum provides a solid foundation in AI, practical applications, and career development, empowering women to thrive in the tech industry. This comprehensive program is designed to equip participants with both foundational and advanced skills in machine learning.
The NOMU x Khotwa Project graduated 81 participants in Machine Learning, Data Science, and Data Analytics, while the Fall 2024 cohort welcomed 106 new participants. The NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI program accepted over 120 Emirati women, bringing our total to 285 AIC graduates. With three more cohorts scheduled for graduation next year, we are on track to exceed 500 graduates, continuing our commitment to advancing AI education.
Additionally, our company training programs have also made a significant impact, with over 200 employees from leading companies such as Gastronomica, Kognity, Apliman, and DOT Lebanon receiving specialized AI training. Furthermore, our industry training initiatives have equipped more than 100 participants with AI applications in fields like legal, healthcare, and personal productivity.
Moreover, at ZAKA, we believe that the new generation is the foundation of the future. This belief drives our SEEDS initiative, a comprehensive program designed to equip young minds from PYP 6 to DP 2 with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It introduces both foundational and advanced AI concepts, including Python programming, machine learning, generative AI, ethical considerations, and data science, while developing creativity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary connections. By integrating hands-on activities and practical applications, SEEDS empowers students to discover AI’s potential and prepares them for diverse career opportunities, ensuring they become innovative leaders.
In addition to SEEDS, we are excited to unveil new initiatives like “ Marketing Strategies with AI ” course in collaboration with Feer McQueen, expanding the horizons of AI education, and providing learners with even more opportunities to explore and apply AI in diverse fields.
This year, we launched our WhatsApp Course: Image Generation, and we’re excited to bring you even more awareness courses accessible to everyone. Stay tuned for our upcoming launches!
Our Next Destination: Building a Thriving Community
Any organization with a vision to grow and thrive must cultivate a core principle in its culture: making an impact and serving the community it belongs to. At ZAKA, this belief is at the heart of our mission. As we continue to evolve, we are committed to building a thriving community, where collaboration, engagement, and knowledge sharing are key to long-term success.
A key pillar of our community-building initiatives is the ZAKA Ambassadors Network. With 23 ambassadors across countries such as Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, and Kuwait, we are expanding our MENA influence. These ambassadors are passionate advocates who not only love AI but are also dedicated to promoting ZAKA within their networks. Through formal agreements, they help extend our reach, share their personal experiences, and build relationships with AI professionals.
Through our series of Community Events & Workshops, we extend our reach and impact. In 2024 we hosted over 50 events, attended by more than 3,300 participants. These events were made possible through collaborations with prominent partner organizations such as ACIE, INJAZ, Amideast, Beirut AI, DSC MENA, CodeBrave, Oreyeon x Forward MENA, and Sira Community.
Key highlights included the AI Prompt Engineering Workshop, the Coding Battle UAE at Ajman University, and the Campus AI Fest 2024 in Egypt and France. The year concluded with the SPE Egypt Event at Alexandria University and the AI HealthTalks, exploring AI’s role in healthcare.
Additionally, we launched several new initiatives, including the “AI in Arabic” and “AI for Educators” webinar series, as well as Code-Along with ZAKA, among others. These efforts have further solidified our commitment to promoting AI education and fostering a vibrant AI community.
Looking ahead, we are excited about our Launchpad Competition in collaboration with IEEE Entrepreneurship, offering early-stage AI startups the opportunity to compete, win, and scale their vision. The Launchpad invites innovative entrepreneurs from across the MENA region and beyond to showcase their AI solutions, gain exposure, mentorship, and access to resources.
ZAKA’s Social Media Impact
As part of our mission to build a thriving community, we prioritize building lasting relationships with the ZAKA community through active engagement on social media platforms. As Don Schultz once said, “Social media creates communities, not markets,” and we are committed to building a community that thrives through engagement and connection. Our social media presence reaches over 300K+ followers across Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Youtube.
ZAKA Careers: Your Next Hire Awaits
At ZAKA Careers, we connect businesses with top-tier AI talent, equipping graduates with advanced AI knowledge and skills. We foster growth and innovation across industries such as Education, IT, Finance, and Retail, with a 75% hiring rate in Data and Machine Learning roles.
Our graduates are thriving in the following positions: AI Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Junior AI Engineer, AI/ML Instructor & Developer, AI Research Engineer, AI Application Developer, Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Deep Learning & Computer Vision Engineer, BI Analyst, AI Team Member, AI and Research Intern, Generative AI Engineer, Software Developer, AI Product Specialist, Data Engineer, and BI Consultant/Developer.
MadeBy: ZAKA’s Innovation and Development Branch
This year, we launched MadeBy, the AI innovation arm of ZAKA, where we transform ambitious ideas into impactful solutions. While ZAKA empowers communities through AI education, MadeBy focuses on developing cutting-edge applications that tackle real-world challenges and redefine innovation.
Some of our exciting projects include:
- AI Photobooth: A web-based tool that combines AI and creativity to deliver personalized, themed photo souvenirs for events and campaigns.
- The Interactive Room: A platform that lets users immerse themselves in iconic movie scenes using AI-powered face-swapping and voice-syncing.
Learn more about our work at madeby.zaka.ai.
As we reach the final destination of our journey, we arrive at Team Impact and the vibrant culture we’ve built
At ZAKA, we’re focused on creating an environment that goes beyond the traditional corporate model. We believe that our success lies in creating a positive environment and prioritizing the well-being of our team. As part of this, we’ve held numerous internal events and celebrated significant milestones, including ZAKA’s 5-Year Anniversary, which brought our community even closer together. Our commitment to excellence has also been recognized, with notable achievements such as receiving the La French Tech Beirut GRAND PRIX 2024 award on June 25 2024.
This is our journey in 2024, a year of transformation and growth in the AI field. We’ve achieved remarkable progress and are committed to continuous development. Stay tuned for our upcoming programs, new partnerships, and exciting events.
Ready for the adventure? Join us on our journey and stay connected with ZAKA!
As we continue our path of growth and transformation, we want you to be part of the conversation. Join our community today to stay updated on the latest AI education programs, upcoming events, and exciting new partnerships. Whether you’re looking to advance your AI skills or connect with like-minded professionals, there’s a place for you at ZAKA.
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