ZAKA

"Let's build bridges, not walls." ( Martin Luther King Jr.) I started with this quote because Zaka is definitely one of those who build bridges to the door of opportunity in the machine learning field. In 16 weeks program, you will see yourself equipped with all the necessary skills to kick off your career in AI. The environment is so friendly, and all the instructors are amazing. They are very experienced in the programs they are teaching. The flow of the program shows the hard work behind it (how it covers all the aspects in a simple yet effective way). I can't find the words to describe all the things inside the program (guidance, mentorships, chitchat, and live talks) they were amazing. The career fair week was great with all the partners of Zaka, an opportunity to increase your connections and to know more about the AI community. I highly recommend this program to all who want to kick off the way in AI. So now I will leverage and enhance my acquired skills in ML and AI by participating in challenges and workshops, also by applying to internships and entry-level roles to gain market experience.   Read less

Hello, I'm Kamar Chehimy, a Biomedical Engineer. I am participating in Zaka’s 16 week intensive Machine learning program. 

It's really hard to find a program that goes over your expectation and it was achieved in Zaka. Everything was well organized and planned from the weekly lessons, challenges, office hours, exams and even the capstone project. You can work for couple of hours without being bored or tired due to the way they deliver the lessons and the challenges they design. 

The team is very friendly and intelligent. You'll feel comfortable interacting and working with them. You'll absolutely enjoy your time spent on the program.  Read less

Hey, I'm Ahmad Dorra, a software developer, and participating in the Machine Learning Certification Program (16-weeks) was one of the best decisions I made. Very well-organized lectures. High standard and easy to follow at the same time. Between the concise material (slides, deep-dive) provided and the round-clock support (office hours, slack channels) there is no need to check anywhere else. I would recommend the Bootcamp to anyone regardless of academic background since the instructors explain everything from the ground up. The quizzes and weekly challenges really helped retain most of the material. Honestly, my expectations were surpassed especially when we started learning how to build a neural network from scratch and solve back propagation on our own. That goes to show you that this course is not just about using libraries and copying code. Everything you need to get started in the AI/Ml field is in this Bootcamp. If you can code you must enroll today!! Read less

I came from a petroleum engineering background, and chose to enter the MLC program for the sake of following the automation trend in oil and gas.

The learnt topics are interesting and provide various approaches to design optimized models.

I was surprised by the advancement that neural networks can provide to the improvement the accuracies, in addition to the various parameters tuning methodologies.

After accumulated knowledge, I made with my partner a voice analysis project that uses deep learning to identify the speech emotions and language fluency.

From now on, I am seeking combining my energy background with the unique ML knowledge I gain with Zaka, to support the energy solutions that rely on AI. Read less

This 12-week program was one of the most powerful programs I have ever taken.it starts with basic knowledge about machine learning and then goes step by step into the deep aspects of how a machine acts and performers. through the 12 weeks, we had ongoing support through office hours, mentoring sessions and direct contact with the supervisors through slack. Read less

The program was a great introduction to the world of classic ML and AI in all its fields: NLP, Computer Vision, and AI system building that was introduced to us through hands-on experience in the final capstone project. The program overall is a good choice to start a career in AI having the fundamentals of the field. Read less

ZAKA’s Women in AI program was a valuable and well-structured learning experience that helped me build a strong foundation in machine learning. I joined the program to strengthen my technical skills in AI and understand how machine learning models can be developed, evaluated, and applied to real problems.One of the most beneficial parts of the program was learning the practical machine learning workflow, from data preprocessing and model development to evaluation and interpretation. The instructors and the ZAKA team were supportive, professional, and clear in their explanations of the concepts, which made the learning process smooth and motivating.The program opened the first door for me into AI and gave me the confidence to continue developing my skills beyond the classroom. I later applied many of the skills I learned in my Nuclear Engineering research, integrating AI and machine learning into radiation detection and decision-support applications. This showed me how powerful AI can be when combined with engineering and scientific research.I also appreciated the project component and the career fair, as they helped connect the technical learning with real career development. Overall, the program improved my technical confidence, deepened my understanding of machine learning, and provided a strong starting point for future work at the intersection of AI, engineering, and research. Read less

I joined ZAKA to build a stronger foundation in AI and Machine Learning and to get more hands-on experience applying these concepts in real projects.The program was comprehensive and practical. It included weekly technical sessions, hands-on sessions, weekly assignments, assessment exams, and a final project where we applied what we learned throughout the program. This structure helped me stay consistent and actually practice the topics instead of only learning them theoretically.What I also appreciated was the support from the tutors and instructors. They followed up with us at every step, were always helpful, and made sure we were progressing. I also felt that the team genuinely listened to students’ feedback and took it into consideration.Overall, it was a valuable learning experience that helped me improve my technical skills, gain more confidence, and build a clearer understanding of how AI and Machine Learning can be applied in real-world projects. Read less

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, I found myself in a phase of uncertainty. Although I had spent years studying mathematics, statistics, probability, and analytical models, I often questioned where all of this knowledge could truly be applied in the real world. I knew I loved problem-solving, innovation, and technology, but my career direction still felt ambiguous. I was searching for something that could connect my analytical background with meaningful real-world impact, yet I had not fully discovered where I belonged.That is when I joined the Women in AI program by ZAKA.At the beginning, my goal was simply to explore the world of artificial intelligence and better understand whether this field could become the bridge between my mathematical background and my passion for building impactful solutions. I expected to learn technical concepts, but I did not expect the program to completely reshape the way I viewed my degree, my skills, and even my future career path.Over the course of five months, the program became one of the most transformative learning experiences I have had. What stood out immediately was the exceptional quality of teaching and mentorship. The instructors were not only technically strong, but also genuinely supportive and invested in our growth. The curriculum was thoughtfully designed to balance theory with hands-on implementation, which was exactly what I had been missing after university.Coming from an Applied Mathematics and Statistics background, I had previously understood many concepts only from a theoretical perspective. Through this program, I finally began understanding how these mathematical foundations are translated into actual AI systems and intelligent applications. For the first time, I could clearly see how machine learning models are trained, optimized, evaluated, and integrated into real products and workflows. Concepts that once existed only in notebooks and equations suddenly became living systems capable of solving real problems.My favorite part of the program was the applied machine learning and AI implementation sections because they helped me connect mathematics to practical innovation. I especially enjoyed learning how AI models interact with data pipelines, user systems, and intelligent workflows. The program gave me exposure not only to machine learning concepts, but also to how AI solutions are built from both the technical and systems perspectives.I also discovered many exciting topics that were completely new to me, especially retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), conversational AI systems, large language models, and intelligent AI applications. What surprised me the most was how practical and industry-oriented the experience was. We were constantly encouraged to experiment, build, troubleshoot, collaborate, and think critically rather than simply memorize information. This made the learning process deeply engaging and empowering.Another major milestone during the program was earning both the Certified Machine Learning (CML) and Certified Artificial Intelligence Practitioner (CAIP) certifications from CertNexus. These certifications strengthened my technical confidence and validated the skills I developed throughout the journey.One of the most meaningful parts of the experience was working on our graduation project, “BookBuddy AI.” Together with my team, we developed an AI-powered interactive reading assistant focused on enhancing Arabic reading experiences using NLP, conversational AI, and retrieval-based systems. This project represented much more than a technical assignment for me. It was the moment where I realized that I was finally applying my mathematical background, analytical thinking, creativity, and newly developed AI skills into something real and impactful. I am incredibly proud that BookBuddy AI later won First Place in the Young Entrepreneur’s Category during the Innovation Awards at the Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries.What makes this journey even more special is that my path with ZAKA did not end after the program itself. After some time, our paths crossed again through a startAD competition that was organized in partnership with ZAKA. During that experience, we collaborated on another innovative project called “Nabra.” For me, this was a beautiful reflection of how the program was not only an educational experience, but also the beginning of a long-term connection with a community that continuously supports innovation, collaboration, and growth. It truly showed me that opportunities created through meaningful programs can continue expanding far beyond the classroom itself.The career fair and networking opportunities throughout the program also gave me valuable exposure to professionals and opportunities within the AI industry, helping me better envision my future path in this field.Looking back, the Women in AI program did much more than teach me AI concepts. It helped me discover where my background, strengths, and passions intersect. It transformed uncertainty into direction. It showed me that Applied Mathematics and Statistics can become powerful foundations for building intelligent systems, impactful technologies, and innovative solutions.Today, I feel far more confident about my future in AI, research, intelligent systems, and technology-driven innovation. I plan to continue applying what I learned to develop AI solutions that create meaningful impact across sustainability, education, and emerging technologies. I am truly grateful to the entire ZAKA team, mentors, instructors, and organizers for creating such an inspiring and life-changing experience. Read less

As a Data Science graduate, I was eager to dive deeper into the worlds of Machine Learning and AI. I joined Zaka to gain hands-on experience and build a solid foundation in both theoretical and technical concepts. During the program, I developed a strong passion for Computer Vision. For my capstone project, my teammates and I built a comprehensive KYC system featuring MRZ detection, passport segmentation, and face recognition. The practical skills I gained through this project and the overall program were instrumental in helping me secure an AI internship at Uqudo. Read less

I joined the ZAKA Machine Learning because it looked like an amazing opportunity to gain both theoretical knowledge of ML along with practical experience through challenges and projects which have made me feel more confident when applying for jobs.
A lot of topics were covered during the bootcamp ranging from the necessary fundamentals such as the types of algorithms used for training, all the way to more advanced concepts like Neural Language Processing.
 The instructors and mentors were supportive throughout the bootcamp and helped simplify difficult concepts. I also ended using tools and libraries that I had never used before such as pandas, matplotlib, numpy and openCV.

 A highlight of the experience was working on projects that allowed me to build something practical and improve my problem-solving skills.

Overall, the bootcamp helped improve both my technical skills and my confidence in machine learning. It gave me a stronger foundation for future internships and career opportunities in AI/ML. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a practical introduction to machine learning and real-world projects.  Read less

I joined the Certified AI Consultant program at ZAKA because I wanted to move beyond the buzz around AI and actually understand how to apply it in a consulting context. I was looking for something structured and practical, not just theoretical and CAC delivered exactly that. Read less

Background and Motivation I possess a background in business administration; however, during my three years at university, I independently developed a keen interest in programming and data analysis. This interest grew significantly, prompting me to delve deeper into the field of Data Science. As a result, I decided to join this comprehensive program to expand my knowledge and gain practical experience, effectively integrating my business education with AI and data expertise.

Program Structure and Specializations One of the aspects I highly valued about the program was its comprehensive approach, which did not strictly segregate Data Science (DS) and Machine Learning (ML) specializations. Instead, it provided a balanced mix of both, covering essential foundations such as the DS Lifecycle, Modelling, Time Series, Computer Vision, Geospatial Data, and Deep Learning. The DS specialization focused more on Data Extraction and Storytelling, while the ML track emphasized deployment, production, and large language models (LLMs). Detailed explanations, hands-on notebooks, and weekly challenges ensured a thorough understanding of every concept.

New Learning Experiences Several new topics captured my interest, particularly Computer Vision. This subject revealed the vast array of AI tools and real-life applications such as object detection, classification, segmentation, and anomaly detection in various fields like fashion and medicine. Transitioning from being merely an end user to a creator of these technologies was empowering. Another intriguing topic was Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, which became the focus of my capstone project. Our team developed a model to forecast meal demand for a cloud kitchen months in advance, a challenging yet rewarding experience.

Project Experience The project phase was both demanding and exhilarating. It provided a real-world simulation of a data scientist’s role, complete with deadlines, data constraints, and business challenges. This hands-on application of my learning encompassed the entire DS lifecycle—from data acquisition to model deployment. A significant contributor to my success was the program manager, Samer El Zant, whose guidance and mentorship were invaluable.

Transformation and Career Impact The program proved to be a transformative journey, enabling me to pivot my career towards AI and Data Science. I emerged as a market-ready certified Data Scientist, equipped to excel in any related job. Furthermore, the program integrated my business acumen with AI solutions, facilitating more efficient problem-solving than traditional methods.

Future Aspirations Looking ahead, I am eager to delve deeper into specific subfields and explore additional use cases. I am currently developing demonstrations with real-life datasets, aiming to secure a Data Scientist or AI-related position in the near future. My ultimate goal is to become a leader in the field, continually pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve.

This program was not just an educational experience but a pivotal chapter in my career, opening new horizons and equipping me with the skills needed to thrive in the dynamic world of AI and Data Science. Read less

Everything at Zaka academy, was amazing regarding the quality of information, the sessions, technical sessions, skills that we developed. As a graduate, I am grateful to all Zaka team members, for the way they provided such program and delivered it. We learnt a lot, as a ML specialization, about models, training, testing, the program was full of projects, 'weekly ones'.  Read less

 I decided to join the program to enhance my data analytics skills and leverage data-driven decision-making in my career. My goal was to gain comprehensive knowledge of data analysis tools and techniques and to apply this knowledge effectively in real-world scenarios.The topic I liked the most was data visualization. I found transforming raw data into visually appealing and informative charts and graphs fascinating. This topic stood out because it gave me powerful tools to communicate complex data insights clearly and effectively, which is crucial for making informed business decisions.A new topic for me was big data analytics. I was amazed by the scale and complexity of analyzing large datasets. The most surprising aspect was how advanced tools and techniques can handle massive amounts of data, uncovering patterns and trends that were previously hidden.For my project, I analyzed customer purchase behavior to develop a dashboard for sales forecasting. The career fair experience was invaluable, offering opportunities to connect with industry professionals and receive feedback on my work.The program significantly improved my analytical skills, particularly in Python, R, and advanced statistical methods. This has prepared me to tackle challenging data problems and contribute effectively to any team.My plans include pursuing a career in data science and analytics, where I can apply my acquired skills to drive innovation and efficiency in business processes.  Read less

The curriculum was meticulously organized, featuring exceptional instructors and mentors who provided comprehensive career guidance and support. Additionally, there was excellent follow-up with alumni, ensuring they received continuous assistance and opportunities for professional development. Read less

As a techincal support specialist, I decided to learn about AI and working with data. I discovered Zaka, one of the outstanding academy and community for AI field. I had the opportunity to be accepted in the AI Certification Data Science Specialization which took over 20 weeks. In those 20 weeks I learned alot and every week module was insightful and very well explained. The instructors were very helpful and constantly available for assistance. To the fact that I was not very good in Python programming (or basically any other programming langauge), I was very pleased and content to have sharpened those skills and improved them by the end of the program. Zaka also represented lots of workshops during the program, as well as hosting a virtual career fair which was really one of a kind. It was great meeting companies and ambassadors from the AI field and connect with them. Zaka school is highly recommended! Read less