We Are Together is a grassroots initiative that dismantles the financial and geographic barriers between underserved communities and world-class education — delivering Coursera certifications to learners who need them most.
Learner Progress — Q1 2026
94%
Course completion rate
Born from the recognition that millions of capable, motivated people are locked out of economic opportunity not because of lack of ambition — but because of where they were born and what they were born into. We Are Together was founded in 2021 by Farhan Ahmed to directly address that injustice.
We provide underserved communities with subsidized access to Coursera's full catalog of professional certificates and degrees, wraparound mentorship, and physical learning infrastructure — creating a complete pathway from exclusion to employment.
We dismantle the financial, technical, and geographic barriers between talent and technology.
We don't serve communities — we build alongside them. Every program is co-designed with local input.
Coursera certifications recognized by Google, IBM, Meta, and hundreds of leading employers worldwide.
Millions of people around the world have the intelligence, drive, and potential to transform their lives — but never get the chance.
Globally, 740 million adults lack the digital skills needed to participate meaningfully in today's knowledge economy, according to UNESCO data.
In many low-income regions, youth unemployment exceeds 67% — not from lack of work ethic, but from lack of access to credential pathways employers trust.
The global skills gap costs the world economy over $1.2 trillion annually in lost productivity — a problem solvable through accessible, quality education.
Every program is offered fully subsidized to qualifying learners, with mentorship, community, and infrastructure support included.
From Python fundamentals to full-stack web development and cloud architecture. Powered by Google, IBM, and Meta's professional certificate tracks on Coursera — industry-vetted and employer-recognized.
Business fundamentals, financial management, strategic leadership, and social entrepreneurship. Includes coursework from Wharton, Yale, and IESE Business School through the Coursera platform.
Data visualization, machine learning, and AI literacy — skills that are shaping every industry worldwide. Courses from Google, DeepLearning.AI, and IBM included in this pathway.
Communication, critical thinking, project management (PMP/Agile), emotional intelligence, and cross-cultural collaboration. Skills that unlock every other skill.
Submit your interest form. Our team assesses eligibility and matches you with the right learning pathway based on your goals and background.
Receive subsidized Coursera access, a dedicated mentor, and — where needed — access to our physical learning labs with full infrastructure.
Study at your own pace with weekly cohort check-ins, peer study groups, and on-demand technical support from our learning facilitators.
Earn your Coursera certificate and get connected to our partner employer network — with resume support, mock interviews, and job placement assistance.
Every percentage point in our metrics represents a family that gained financial stability, a young person who beat the odds, a community that grew its collective knowledge. Here's what we've built together since 2021.
Before We Are Together, I thought a career in technology was simply not for someone like me. I had the desire, but no path forward. Six months after completing the Google IT Support certificate through this program, I'm employed full-time at a tech company in Karachi.
The data analytics pathway changed not just my career but my entire way of thinking. The support from mentors was incredible — they treated us like people, not statistics. I completed my IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate and doubled my income within four months.
As a mother of three in a low-income household, I never imagined I'd be running my own online business. The entrepreneurship program gave me the tools, the mindset, and — crucially — the recognized credentials to be taken seriously. This program sees potential where others see barriers.
Digital learning requires digital access. We operate physical community learning labs equipped with everything a learner needs — ensuring that connectivity is never a reason someone can't progress. Our labs are open seven days a week, fully staffed, and completely free to enrolled learners.
"We built the infrastructure not because it was easy, but because our learners deserved a place that told them — you belong here."
— Farhan Ahmed, Founder
We Are Together is led by practitioners, educators, and advocates — people who've seen the cost of inequality firsthand and chose to do something about it.
Farhan Ahmed founded We Are Together in 2021 after recognizing a painful gap in his own community — talented, motivated people unable to access the skills the modern economy demands. With a background in community development and digital education, Farhan designed WAT's integrated model: not just course access, but full infrastructure, mentorship, and employment pathways.
Under his leadership, the initiative has grown from a single learning lab to a multi-site program serving 500+ active learners. Farhan believes that lasting change requires treating learners with the dignity and ambition they already possess.
We collaborate with NGOs, tech companies, educational institutions, and community organizations to scale our impact.
Our program is designed for individuals from low-income or underserved communities who have limited access to quality education or technology. Applicants must be 16 years or older. We prioritize youth unemployment, women returning to the workforce, and individuals in communities with limited internet or device access. There is no formal educational requirement — motivation and commitment are our primary criteria.
Yes — 100% free for qualifying learners. Coursera subscriptions, course materials, mentorship, lab access, and job placement support are all fully subsidized. We Are Together covers these costs through our partner network, grants, and social impact funding programs including our Coursera partnership. Learners are never charged for anything.
Program duration depends on the pathway chosen. Our shortest programs (Professional Skills) take 2–3 months, while comprehensive technical pathways (Technology & Software Development, Data Analytics) typically take 4–6 months. All programs are self-paced, so dedicated learners may complete them faster. We support you throughout the entire journey — there's no rushing or falling behind alone.
Absolutely. All certificates are issued directly by Coursera and the partner institutions (Google, IBM, Meta, Yale, Wharton, etc.). These are the same credentials available to anyone on Coursera's platform — recognized by thousands of employers globally. Our employer partners in Pakistan and internationally have committed to considering our graduates, and we actively facilitate introductions and placement support.
No personal device or internet connection is required. Our physical learning labs provide enterprise-grade workstations, high-speed fiber internet, and technical support — all free and open seven days a week to enrolled learners. If you do have your own device, you can also participate fully online from home.
Every learner is paired with a dedicated mentor from their field of study — a professional with real industry experience who meets weekly via video or in-person to review progress, answer questions, and provide career guidance. We also facilitate peer cohort groups so learners can support each other. Mentorship doesn't end at graduation — we maintain relationships with alumni and support them through their job search.
We welcome partnerships in several forms: employer partnerships (commit to interviewing our graduates), funding partnerships (sponsor learner subscriptions or lab infrastructure), knowledge partnerships (provide mentors or instructors), and community partnerships (help us identify and reach learners in underserved areas). Reach out via our contact form below or email us directly at partnerships@acpl.app.
Fill out the interest form and our admissions team will reach out within 48 hours to discuss your eligibility, pathway options, and next steps. There are no wrong answers — we work with each person individually.
We'll respond within 48 hours · Your data is kept private and never shared