IMECE Project, which is supported by Google and implemented by UNHCR in partnership with Habitat Association, aims to improve entrepreneurial capacities and employability of Syrian refugees in Turkey by increasing digital skills.

In 2021, Habitat will support the inclusion of refugees in the economy through a non-formal peer education, focusing on the use of technology in 14 cities (Ankara, Denizli, Gaziantep, Mersin, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Konya, Kayseri, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Bursa and Sakarya).

The development of digital skills is one of the biggest milestones in a person’s entrepreneurship or employment process. In the current digitalized world, individuals with digital competences have more opportunities of creating a livelihood for themselves. This is even more important for the refugee community who face disadvantages in the labour market and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Within this project, Habitat will implement the Google’s Maharat min Programme which is a digital skills training programme designed to help Arabic speakers, particularly young people and women, jump-start or advance their careers, get ready for future job opportunities or grow their businesses.

The Maharat min Google platform currently offers a wide range of free courses across three major categories: digital marketing, data and tech, and career development. The lessons are available in the form of over 100 explanatory videos covering issues such as search engine marketing, building a successful online presence, social media, online advertisement, and effective networking. Upon completion of the courses, participants receive a certificate from Google.