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Sorry about the thread highjacking! But do you work internationally, like all the way in the middle east? I'm one of the local dev community leaders in my count

Sorry about the thread highjacking! But do you work internationally, like all the way in the middle east? I'm one of the local dev community leaders in my country, and there is just so much space for proper training and education, also a huge supply of fresh out of CS school youngsters who have no idea what to do in a troubled country with an education system that's stuck in the 90s. So I would like to ask you a few questions if you allow me to shoot you an email? :)

616c 8y ago
My email is in profile. Please email and I'll try to link you up with friends in MENA and in the US and look for opportunities where you can cooperate.
- Ahmed90 8y ago
  Sure, check your inbox :)
austenallred 8y ago
We’re mostly in the US for now, need to figure out regulation and income verification + markets overseas. Soon.
- Ahmed90 8y ago
  Oh, that's unfortunate, Thank you :)
starwatch 8y ago
I listened to the A16Z podcast recently on the refugee crises in Syria[1] where they talk about a generation of people that will have missed out on secondary education due to the war there. I'd be curious to know what positive actions you've seen taken (or heard of) that can help address the issue? [1]:https://a16z.com/2016/12/15/refugee-crisis-mobility-technology/ https://a16z.com/2016/12/15/refugee-crisis-mobility-technolo...
- Ahmed90 8y ago
  I'm not Syrian, I'm Iraqi, and I can assure you the issue is bigger than that around here (most middle east) The only positive(ish) thing I know of is a Bootcamp they do in northern Iraq for Iraqi(ISIS crisis) and Syrian refugees that teach them how to code, but it's most basic stuff that bearly qualify you for an interview but no more. The problem with these international organization is that they sponsor local educational entities to do the teaching and training... and 99% of them are not even qualified to work in the industry (tech as an example), I know a young girl certified by the "IEEE young professionals", with local & international charities sponsorships, who teaches girls how to code, and her classroom slides are full of errors... in HTML... structure and spelling mistakes all over the place :'(
  - austenallred 8y ago
    What’s the level of English proficiency?
    - Ahmed90 8y ago
      The level varies but in general, the young Iraqis are Hollywood addicts xD, so I would say it's decent, some are really good and some need a little bit practice. All mentors/leaders are easily on the high side
  - laythea 8y ago
    Thats not ideal, off course, but surely better than no education?
    - Ahmed90 8y ago
      The traditional education is the problem, most of the students in the activities I mentioned above are university students or already graduated. the majority are not uneducated refugees as you think.
  - starwatch 8y ago
    Learning a new language (english) is difficult enough, but to learn to program a computer at the same time seems a lot to ask of children. If software engineering is a sensible way out, would something like Qalb be a better starting point for learning core fundamentals? The reason for asking the question comes from a "what can I do to help standpoint". Throwing money over the fence is often the only answer I receive to that question but from my own naive perspective it seems that billions in aid haven't made much of a (self-sustaining) dent. However if a language like Qalb were actively used I could imagine contributing to its development - perhaps making it more elm-like so it compiles into javascript?
DoreenMichele 8y ago
who have no idea what to do in a troubled country with an education system that's stuck in the 90s. https://clementecourse.org https://clementecourse.org Years ago, I read a book about the program. It's designed to educate people in terrible circumstances. I am thinking you might find it a useful resource. Among other things, they designed a schedule that helped minimize the damage from missed sessions, iirc. Best.
- Ahmed90 8y ago
  Thanks

616c 8y ago

My email is in profile. Please email and I'll try to link you up with friends in MENA and in the US and look for opportunities where you can cooperate.

Ahmed90 8y ago
Sure, check your inbox :)

austenallred 8y ago

We’re mostly in the US for now, need to figure out regulation and income verification + markets overseas. Soon.

Ahmed90 8y ago
Oh, that's unfortunate, Thank you :)

starwatch 8y ago

I listened to the A16Z podcast recently on the refugee crises in Syria[1] where they talk about a generation of people that will have missed out on secondary education due to the war there. I'd be curious to know what positive actions you've seen taken (or heard of) that can help address the issue? [1]:https://a16z.com/2016/12/15/refugee-crisis-mobility-technology/ https://a16z.com/2016/12/15/refugee-crisis-mobility-technolo...

Ahmed90 8y ago
I'm not Syrian, I'm Iraqi, and I can assure you the issue is bigger than that around here (most middle east) The only positive(ish) thing I know of is a Bootcamp they do in northern Iraq for Iraqi(ISIS crisis) and Syrian refugees that teach them how to code, but it's most basic stuff that bearly qualify you for an interview but no more. The problem with these international organization is that they sponsor local educational entities to do the teaching and training... and 99% of them are not even qualified to work in the industry (tech as an example), I know a young girl certified by the "IEEE young professionals", with local & international charities sponsorships, who teaches girls how to code, and her classroom slides are full of errors... in HTML... structure and spelling mistakes all over the place :'(
- austenallred 8y ago
  What’s the level of English proficiency?
  - Ahmed90 8y ago
    The level varies but in general, the young Iraqis are Hollywood addicts xD, so I would say it's decent, some are really good and some need a little bit practice. All mentors/leaders are easily on the high side
- laythea 8y ago
  Thats not ideal, off course, but surely better than no education?
  - Ahmed90 8y ago
    The traditional education is the problem, most of the students in the activities I mentioned above are university students or already graduated. the majority are not uneducated refugees as you think.
- starwatch 8y ago
  Learning a new language (english) is difficult enough, but to learn to program a computer at the same time seems a lot to ask of children. If software engineering is a sensible way out, would something like Qalb be a better starting point for learning core fundamentals? The reason for asking the question comes from a "what can I do to help standpoint". Throwing money over the fence is often the only answer I receive to that question but from my own naive perspective it seems that billions in aid haven't made much of a (self-sustaining) dent. However if a language like Qalb were actively used I could imagine contributing to its development - perhaps making it more elm-like so it compiles into javascript?

DoreenMichele 8y ago

who have no idea what to do in a troubled country with an education system that's stuck in the 90s. https://clementecourse.org https://clementecourse.org Years ago, I read a book about the program. It's designed to educate people in terrible circumstances. I am thinking you might find it a useful resource. Among other things, they designed a schedule that helped minimize the damage from missed sessions, iirc. Best.

Ahmed90 8y ago
Thanks