The verdict in three sentences
From Saint-Louis, you can become a full-stack JavaScript developer without moving, provided you show a portfolio of genuinely deployed projects rather than a list of languages on a CV. As a 2026 estimate, a junior earns 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month in Dakar, an experienced developer 400,000 to 900,000 FCFA, and remote work for European clients bills at 150 to 400 EUR a day depending on experience. A 61-hour course at 200,000 FCFA (305 EUR) leading to 8 live projects costs four to ten times less than a bootcamp, but it demands real discipline over several months.
Why Saint-Louis is a good starting point
With Gaston Berger University and its computer science, mathematics and economics programmes, Saint-Louis trains students every year who have the logic but not always the tools companies use: React, Next.js, Node, PostgreSQL and Git. Living costs are lower than in Dakar, fibre and 4G cover the city, and Dakar firms increasingly hire fully or partly remote. Dakar start-ups, agencies and IT service firms, as well as clients in France, Belgium or Canada, judge first on projects visible on GitHub.
| Level or status | Pay 2026 (estimate) | Realistic time from starting to learn |
|---|---|---|
| Development internship in Dakar | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA a month | 4 to 6 months |
| Junior developer in Dakar | 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month | 6 to 12 months |
| Junior at a fast-growing start-up | up to 500,000 FCFA a month | 9 to 15 months |
| Experienced developer in Dakar | 400,000 to 900,000 FCFA a month | 2 to 4 years |
| Freelance brochure website | 150,000 to 600,000 FCFA per project | 6 to 9 months |
| Freelance simple web app | 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA per project | 12 to 24 months |
| Remote contract for Europe | 150 to 400 EUR a day | 2 years and more |
These figures depend heavily on your portfolio, technical English and network. No income is guaranteed.
Bootcamp, university or online course: comparing
Intensive bootcamps provide close supervision but are expensive and often require living in Dakar for three to six months. University courses give solid foundations in algorithms without always going as far as deploying a modern application. Free resources are excellent but scattered: many people give up for lack of a clear path.
| Option | 2026 cost (estimate) | Length | Deployed projects | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive bootcamp in Dakar | 800,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 months | 3 to 5 | Cost, housing in Dakar |
| Computer science degree | University fees and 3 to 5 years | 3 to 5 years | Variable | Little focus on modern stack |
| Free online resources | 0 FCFA excluding data | Open-ended | Depends on your discipline | No path, frequent drop-out |
| English-language online courses | 10,000 to 60,000 FCFA per course | Variable | 1 to 3 | In English, no local context |
| Kolonell full-stack course | 200,000 FCFA | 61 h, 9 modules | 8 | Needs regular practice |
The course Développeur Full-Stack JavaScript (taught in French) is level 5, the Expert level, of the web development track, yet open to beginners because it covers the basics at speed: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git and the terminal, React and hooks, Next.js and server rendering, a backend with Node, Express and PostgreSQL, then a CV, portfolio and job application module. That is 61 hours, nine modules, 200,000 FCFA (305 EUR) and a certificate, with 8 projects deployed on GitHub. The full five-level Web development track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000. Payment by Wave or Orange Money.
Your portfolio is your real diploma
A recruiter spends only a few minutes on an application. Eight live projects, with clean code and a clear README, prove you can ship. Mix them: a responsive brochure site, a React app calling an API, a Next.js dashboard, a Node API with a PostgreSQL database and a complete full-stack app with authentication. Add one locally useful project, for example a directory of Saint-Louis craftspeople or a booking tracker for a guesthouse on the island.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Cheikh, 22, an applied mathematics undergraduate at UGB, puts 8 hours a week into the course for five months, about 160 hours including exercises and projects. Cost: 200,000 FCFA, plus around 10,000 FCFA a month for internet, 250,000 FCFA in total. With his 8 projects, he first lands two brochure websites for Saint-Louis shops at 250,000 FCFA each, 500,000 FCFA, which covers the investment twice. If he then gets a remote junior job at 300,000 FCFA a month, the course amounts to less than one month's salary. Illustrative scenario: first contracts depend on your prospecting and are not guaranteed.
FAQ
Can I start with no programming background?
Yes. The first four modules cover HTML, CSS and JavaScript from scratch, at speed. Plan on 8 to 10 hours a week for four to six months.
What computer do I need?
A laptop with 8 GB of RAM is enough, roughly 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA second-hand in Saint-Louis or Dakar. All the tools used are free.
Is the course in French?
Yes, entirely in French, with English technical vocabulary explained. Written English remains an asset for contracts at 150 to 400 EUR a day.
Is the certificate enough to get hired?
It is a verifiable Kolonell certificate, not a state diploma. Your 8 projects and the technical interview are what count.
How do I pay?
By Wave or Orange Money: 200,000 FCFA for this level, or 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 for the full track.
Take the next step. Enroll in Développeur Full-Stack JavaScript: 61 hours, 200,000 FCFA, certificate and 8 deployed projects. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
