The verdict in three sentences
In Ziguinchor, a beginner's biggest risk is not failing at code; it is paying 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA for a bootcamp, often with a move to Dakar, before knowing whether they like the job. The right first step is a short, concrete test: understand how a website works, write a first HTML page and publish it online. Kolonell's level 1 course does exactly that in 6 hours, for 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), from home.
Why test before committing
Web development attracts many young people in Casamance: it is remote-friendly work you can do for clients in Dakar, Abidjan or the diaspora without leaving Ziguinchor. It also demands patience with errors, a taste for logic and hours of regular practice. Some love it from the first page; others find it is not for them. Both answers are useful, as long as you get them quickly and cheaply.
What those 6 hours should teach you about yourself:
- does hunting for why an image will not display amuse you or annoy you?
- do you want to understand what sits behind the sites you use every day?
- can you free up 2 to 3 hours a week for 2 to 3 weeks?
| Way to start (2026 ballpark) | Cost | Duration | Travel | What you will know at the end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA, data aside | Unlimited | No | Fragments, with no order or feedback |
| Free online certificates (international platforms) | 0 FCFA, often in English | 20 to 300 h | No | Solid basics if you persist alone |
| Kolonell level 1 course | 25,000 FCFA | 6 h | No, online | How the web works and a first published page |
| In-person evening classes | 30,000 to 80,000 FCFA a month | 2 to 6 months | Yes, rare in Ziguinchor | HTML and CSS basics |
| Intensive bootcamp | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 months | Often in Dakar | Junior level, if you finish |
The maths is simple: if you discover the job does not suit you, you have lost 25,000 FCFA and 6 hours, instead of several hundred thousand francs and months of rent in Dakar.
What the course contains
The course Discover code: understand how a website works is level 1, Beginner, of the Web development track. It is taught in French and has three modules:
- How the web works: the path of a page between your phone and a server, with the right words (URL, DNS, HTTP, hosting), and inspecting any site with Chrome's developer tools.
- First steps in HTML: install VS Code, create a project folder, write a valid page with headings, paragraphs, links, images and a list.
- Style, interaction and going live: tell HTML, CSS and JavaScript apart, then publish your page for free and share it with a link.
No experience is needed. Even an old computer works (Windows, macOS or Linux), and lessons can be read on a phone, handy when fixed internet is patchy.
What comes next: the job itself
This level is not enough to bill clients. It is there to help you decide. If you continue, the full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000, payable by Wave or Orange Money.
| Stage (2026 ballpark) | Indicative income or salary | Realistic time from zero |
|---|---|---|
| After level 1 | No income, an informed decision | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Small gigs (page integration, edits) | 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA per gig | 4 to 8 months of practice |
| Salaried junior developer in Dakar | 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month | 9 to 18 months |
| Junior in a fast-growing startup | Up to 500,000 FCFA a month | 12 to 18 months |
| Remote freelancer from Ziguinchor | Highly variable, depends on portfolio and clients | 12 months or more |
These are market estimates; no income is guaranteed.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Aliou, 22, a geography undergraduate at Assane Seck University in Ziguinchor, is torn between a 900,000 FCFA bootcamp in Dakar and staying in his degree. He starts with level 1.
- Cost of the test: 25,000 FCFA and 6 hours over two weeks
- Cost avoided if he drops it: 900,000 FCFA + about 4 months of rent in Dakar at 60,000 FCFA, so 1,140,000 FCFA
- Risk ratio: 25,000 / 1,140,000 = 2.2% of what he would have spent blind
- If he continues and lands a junior job at 250,000 FCFA a month, the test equals 10% of one month's salary
Either way, the decision rests on facts, not on an advert.
FAQ
Do I need to be good at maths to code?
No, not for basic web development. The 6 hours of this level require no formulas, only logic and care in how you write.
Can I take the course with only a phone?
Lessons can be read on a phone, but you need a computer, even an old one, to write and publish your page. Allow 2 to 3 hours a week for 2 to 3 weeks.
Do I have to come to Dakar?
No, everything is online. That is the main advantage over bootcamps costing 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA that often require physical attendance.
How do I pay the 25,000 FCFA?
By Wave or Orange Money at enrolment. If you continue, the full track is 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Will I be able to work after this level?
No, and we say it plainly: this level introduces the job. A junior salary of 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month in Dakar usually takes 9 to 18 months of practice.
Take the next step. Enroll in Discover code: understand how a website works: 6 hours, Beginner level, 25,000 FCFA, taught in French, Kolonell Academy certificate included. 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.
