Experience Lab Explorers - Umuzi Paid Work Programme | Umuzi

Who we are

Meet the people, purpose, and philosophy behind Umuzi. Learn how we're building a global community enabling human potential.

Meet the team behind Umuzi. From staff to facilitators, these are the people making our mission real every day.

Meet our team →

Discover how Umuzi grew from a grassroots photojournalism project into a global movement connecting young people to meaningful careers.

Find out what it's like to work at Umuzi and how you can contribute your skills to a team focused on real-world impact.

Explore our current job openings and opportunities to join a purpose-driven, innovative organisation.

Partner with us

Community

Find out how to join the Umuzi community, explore current opportunities for young people, and learn more about how our programmes work and how to apply.

Journey with us

Learn about our three-part model—Skills Lab, Experience Lab, and Launch Lab—and how we support learners from training to earning.

When you join the Umuzi community, you enter a powerful learning-to-earning journey shaped by real-world challenges, deep support systems, and meaningful personal growth.

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Types of opportunities

We partner with a range of organisations – local and global – to offer diverse, high-quality programmes designed to help you grow, earn, and thrive in the right industry.

Apply in a few simple steps — we’ll support you all the way.

Get Involved

Get involved

Whether you want to partner, fund, mentor or give—discover how you can play a role in building a more equitable, opportunity-rich future.

Find out what it's like to work at Umuzi and how you can contribute your skills to a team focused on real-world impact.

Learn how you can support our work by funding specific needs like data, laptops, or entire learning programmes.

Insights

Dive into articles, research, and real-world reflections from the frontlines of education, innovation, and inclusive workforce development.

Thought leadership

Read perspectives from our team and partners on innovation in education, the future of work, and building an inclusive economy.

Access our latest reports filled with data, stories, and insights into how we're making a measurable difference.

Become an Explorer

Why Join the Experience Lab?

Gain real-world, paid experience and work projects while building your portfolio.
Access mentors and networks that help you open doors.
Develop professional and workplace skills to thrive.
Be part of a community that pushes you forward.
Earn through direct payments for work and tasks completed.
Exit once you’ve secured a consistent income aligned with your goals.

Who Should Apply?

You are aged 18–35
You are already skilled in a technical or digital area (formal training, TVET, university, or self-taught). Current pathways include Digital Marketing, Project Management, Software and Web Application Development, Technical Business Support and Data Practitioner.
You are unemployed or underemployed and ready to step up
You can commit 20 hours per week to this high-touch, participation-driven programme
You are committed to doing things differently and taking ownership of your future
You are open to freelancing, self-employment, subsidising your income through different gigs or more innovative ways of working

Your Next Step

Apply Now to become an Explorer and accelerate your journey from learning to earning through this link:

We’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions about Experience Lab, your application, or how to get started, visit our Help Desk!

You'll find FAQs, support articles, and a space to submit your queries directly to our team.

This journey promises to be an exciting and fulfilling experience, and we are excited to embark on it with you!

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