Project Duration: 2023 – 2024
Location: Prizren, Kosovo
Partners: Municipality of Prizren, Help Kosovo, Makerspace Innovation Center Prizren

PowerUp: Digital Career is an employability program designed and implemented by Makerspace Innovation Center Prizren (MICP) in partnership with the Municipality of Prizren and Help Kosovo. Since its launch in 2022, the program has empowered dozens of young people in the region with practical digital skills, hands-on experience, and professional guidance—equipping them for high-demand careers in graphic design and software development.

Program Structure – A three phase journey

Each edition of PowerUp Program has followed a carefully structured three-stage model:

1. Training phase – intensive, skill-based training (9 weeks, 81 academic hours) in two different profiles front-end programming and graphic design. Delivered through hands-on classes and access to Makerspace’s modern learning facilities and equipment.
   
2. Mentorship phase – participants engage in real-world projects under expert guidance, building professional portfolios and receiving individualized feedback through weekly meetings and digital collaboration tools.
3. Internship Placement – graduates are matched with partner companies for 12-week full-time internships, simulating real work environments with the potential for full employment post-placement.

This program was tailored for young, unemployed, or underemployed individuals aged 18–35 with a strong desire to build a career in the digital economy. From the start, it integrated, technical skill-building aligned with labor market needs, soft skills training including CV building, workplace communication, and project management, career orientation and freelancing guidance, mentorship from industry professionals, work-ready portfolios and real-world practice. Through a transparent and competitive selection process including testing and interviews where each cohort has brought together a diverse, motivated group of learners, with a special focus on inclusivity and gender balance. 

Our contribution
Makerspace Innovation Center Prizren collected experts of the Graphic Design and Programing fields as trainers of this program. This resulted in successful training sessions, where the candidates got to know the most advanced softwares and techniques of the chosen fields, while preparing them with the most sought-after skills in the market. With the candidates being prepared and fully skilled by the training of the two categories, Graphic Design and Programming, bringing success stories of the employment, as one of the key components of this Program. 

Across three editions of PowerUp Program the impact has been clear:
Over 300 applications received in total
100+ young professionals trained
100% completion rate among active participants
High satisfaction scores from both learners and mentors
Strong placement rates through internships and freelance contracts
Fully developed portfolios ready for the job market
Active partnerships with over 9 local companies and industry mentors.

Partners