The verdict in three sentences
For a student at Assane Seck University or a young career changer in Ziguinchor, HTML and CSS are the cheapest entry point into a web career. With a computer, an internet plan of 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA a month (EUR 10 to 20) and the course HTML and CSS: build and lay out a real website, taught in French, at 50,000 FCFA (about EUR 80 / USD 90) for 12 hours, you code a complete showcase site and put it online. It is level 2 of the Web development track, the foundation for everything after: JavaScript, React, then full-stack.
What you can do with HTML and CSS in 2026
In Ziguinchor as in Dakar, restaurants, clinics, private schools, hotels and Casamance guesthouses need fast websites that read well on mobile and rank well. A beginner HTML and CSS integrator can sell simple pages, provided the work is clean: semantic HTML, accessible forms, responsive layout and a live site.
| Freelance service | 2026 order of magnitude in Dakar or Ziguinchor | Level required |
|---|---|---|
| One-page landing page | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA (EUR 110 to 230) | Solid HTML and CSS |
| Small 4 to 5 page showcase site | 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA (EUR 150 to 460) | HTML, CSS, responsive, deployment |
| Fixing an existing site | 20,000 to 60,000 FCFA (EUR 30 to 90) | HTML and CSS |
| Showcase site through an agency | 400,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA (EUR 610 to 2,290) | Full team |
| Site with payment or back office | Over 1,000,000 FCFA (EUR 1,520) | JavaScript and backend (later levels) |
These figures are orders of magnitude, not guaranteed earnings. A first client often comes from your close network: a shop in Boucotte, a hotel in Cap Skirring, a student association.
What each way of learning costs
| Option | Indicative 2026 price | Duration | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA | Variable | No guided project, frequent drop-out |
| Free online certificates | 0 FCFA | 20 to 300 h | In English, examples outside the African context |
| In-person bootcamp in Dakar | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA (EUR 760 to 2,290) | 3 to 6 months | Travel and housing on top |
| Kolonell course, level 2 | 50,000 FCFA (EUR 80) | 12 h | Computer required |
| Full Web development track | 350,000 FCFA (EUR 530) instead of 450,000 | 5 levels | Several months of investment |
| Monthly internet plan | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA (EUR 10 to 20) | Per month | Allow for tool downloads |
For a Ziguinchor student, going to Dakar for a bootcamp quickly reaches 1,000,000 FCFA with housing. The online course costs 20 to 30 times less, without leaving Casamance. It belongs to the Web development track, whose level 1 "Discover code" is recommended but optional if you can already write a simple HTML page.
The 5-module programme
| Module | What you learn | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Semantic HTML | header, nav, main, section, footer | Home page validated by the W3C validator |
| 2. Forms and accessibility | Labelled fields, basic ARIA | Contact and booking form |
| 3. CSS fundamentals | Cascade, specificity, box model, units, typography | Stylesheet with variables |
| 4. Flexbox, Grid and responsive | Mobile-first layout | Restaurant landing page |
| 5. Maintainable CSS and deployment | Organisation, performance, publishing | Responsive small-business site online |
Tools: VS Code and Google Chrome with its developer tools, all free. Plan 3 to 4 hours a week for 3 to 4 weeks.
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.
Fatou, 22, a bachelor's student at Assane Seck University in Ziguinchor (illustrative case). She spends 50,000 FCFA on the course and 7,500 FCFA on internet for one month, so 57,500 FCFA in total (about EUR 90). Within a month she completes the final project, then offers a restaurant in the Escale district a landing page for 100,000 FCFA (EUR 150). If she signs it, her investment is repaid with that first contract, with 42,500 FCFA to spare. With a second site at 150,000 FCFA within the quarter, she funds the next level of the track. This scenario is an estimate: finding a client takes prospecting and a portfolio to show.
FAQ
Do I need to have done level 1?
It is recommended but not mandatory. If you can create an HTML file with headings, links and images, you can start here directly, for 50,000 FCFA.
Can I learn HTML and CSS on a phone?
Lessons can be read on a phone, but you need a computer to code, even a modest one. VS Code and Chrome are free and run on a 4 GB RAM machine.
How long does it take to finish?
The course lasts 12 hours. At 3 or 4 hours a week, you finish in 3 to 4 weeks, projects included.
Can I take it from Bamako, Abidjan or Ouagadougou?
Yes, the course is online and open to learners in Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso. Payment is by Wave or Orange Money.
What comes after HTML and CSS?
The next level is JavaScript, then React and Next.js, up to level 5 Full-Stack Developer. The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Take the next step. Enroll in HTML and CSS: build and lay out a real website: 12 hours, 50,000 FCFA (about EUR 80 / USD 90), 2 projects and a verifiable certificate, taught in French. 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.
