The verdict in three sentences
If you can already build a page in HTML and CSS from Saint-Louis, JavaScript is the skill that turns a static showcase into a site that calculates, filters, validates and takes orders, and it is what internship recruiters look at. The Kolonell course costs 75,000 FCFA (115 EUR) for 16 hours online, versus 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA for a bootcamp in Dakar, not counting housing. With a few published projects, an internship paying 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA per month or a first freelance job at 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA becomes a realistic goal in 2026, though not a guaranteed one.
Why JavaScript is the step that unlocks internships
At Université Gaston Berger, many students in computer science, applied mathematics or management learn web basics. The problem: a portfolio of static pages looks like hundreds of others. Dakar companies and small agencies taking remote interns ask for something else: a form that checks a Senegalese phone number, a catalog with search and cart, a page displaying data from an API.
Being in Saint-Louis is no longer a barrier. Most junior web development internships are at least partly remote, and freelance jobs for merchants are handled over WhatsApp. What matters is a GitHub link and two or three live projects.
| Opportunity after JavaScript (2026 estimate) | Pay | Realistic time to reach it | What is expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front-end developer internship (Dakar or remote) | 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA per month | 1 to 3 months after the course | 2 to 3 interactive projects published on GitHub |
| Simple freelance job (form, catalog, calculator) | 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA per job | 2 to 4 months | A portfolio and a first client from your network |
| Junior developer on a fixed-term or permanent contract | 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA per month | 6 to 12 months, often after React | Solid JavaScript plus a framework |
| Small maintenance jobs for merchants | 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA per job | From the first weeks | Reading and fixing existing code |
Online course, bootcamp or self-taught: what each option really costs
| Option (2026 estimate) | Total cost | Duration | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell course, level 3 of 5 (Intermediate) | 75,000 FCFA (115 EUR) | 16 h online | 6 modules, concrete projects with FCFA examples, certificate | Assumes HTML and CSS knowledge |
| Intensive bootcamp in Dakar | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA, plus 60,000 to 120,000 FCFA housing per month | 3 to 6 months | In-person coaching | High cost, leaving Saint-Louis |
| Private lessons in Saint-Louis | 10,000 to 20,000 FCFA per hour | Variable | One-to-one follow-up | Rare, expensive over time |
| Free tutorials and documentation | 0 FCFA (plus data) | 3 to 6 months alone | Free | Examples far from the local market, frequent dropout |
The course JavaScript: make a website lively and interactive, taught in French, runs in six modules: language basics, functions, arrays and objects, the DOM and events, forms, validation and storage, asynchronous code with fetch and APIs, then organizing, debugging and publishing. Projects are designed for the West African market: a library of utility functions (FCFA formatting, VAT calculation, phone number validation), an interactive price calculator linked to a form, a sign-up form validated live, a page loading data from a public API with error handling, a catalog with search, filters and a persistent cart, and a prefilled WhatsApp order generated from the cart.
This is level 3 of the Web Development track. If HTML and CSS are still unclear, level 2 (50,000 FCFA) comes first. Level 4 continues with React and Next.js. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA when buying each level separately.
Mini case study
Moussa, 22, a computer science undergraduate at UGB, taught himself HTML and CSS and published two showcase pages. He has been looking for an internship for three months with no answer.
He takes the course over four weeks, about 4 hours per week, and publishes three projects on GitHub: the catalog with cart, the validated form and the price calculator. He lands a remote internship with a small Dakar agency at 75,000 FCFA per month.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Calculation: 75,000 FCFA paid via Wave, recovered from the first month of the internship. On the side, he builds a catalog with WhatsApp ordering for a fabric shop in the Sor neighborhood, billed 150,000 FCFA. Over two months, the return is around 300,000 FCFA for 75,000 FCFA invested. This scenario is illustrative: the time to find an internship varies widely with profile and network.
FAQ
Do I need to know HTML and CSS before starting?
Yes, this level assumes you can build a simple page. Otherwise, start with level 2 "HTML and CSS" at 50,000 FCFA (12 hours), then continue.
Is a computer required?
Yes, to code comfortably a laptop, even second-hand (150,000 to 250,000 FCFA in Saint-Louis), is enough. A free editor like VS Code and a browser do the rest.
How long to complete the 16 hours?
On average three to five weeks at 4 hours per week, compatible with classes at UGB. Projects can take a few more hours if you customize them for your portfolio.
Will I definitely find an internship?
No, no course guarantees that. As a 2026 estimate, a student with two or three published JavaScript projects gets interviews more often, with internships paying 50,000 to 100,000 FCFA per month.
Can I pay with mobile money?
Yes, the 75,000 FCFA enrollment is paid by Wave or Orange Money, with immediate access. The Kolonell certificate is awarded after passing the quizzes at 70% and submitting the final project.
Take the next step. Enroll in JavaScript: make a website lively and interactive: 16 hours online (taught in French), 75,000 FCFA, verifiable Kolonell certificate. 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.
