At Breakthrough Social Enterprise, we’ve always been focused on one thing: bridging the gap between the talent of today and the industries of tomorrow. That’s why we’re proud to be a founding contributor to the AI Skills Coalition, a bold initiative from the ITU’s AI for Good programme — and arguably, the most impactful partnership in our history to date.

This isn’t just another collaboration. It’s a seismic shift in how we scale our mission to empower marginalised communities through emerging tech.

What is the AI Skills Coalition?

Launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) — the UN’s agency for digital technologies — the AI Skills Coalition brings together over 25 organisations, including AWS, Microsoft, UNDP, Cognizant, and Breakthrough.

Its goal?

To democratise access to AI education globally.

The coalition is building a free, open-access platform packed with AI training courses, tools, and certifications. It prioritises inclusion: women, youth, people with disabilities, and underrepresented communities globally are front and centre.

It’s not just a nice-to-have. It’s an urgent response to a world where AI is growing faster than access to the skills needed to harness it.

Why Breakthrough?

So how did a small but mighty social enterprise from London end up on a global AI stage?

Because we let our actions do the talking. Our work centres on giving people real tools — skills, confidence, networks — to thrive in the digital economy. And we know that AI education is the next frontier of inclusion.

By joining the coalition, we’ve committed to making AI literacy accessible for all, with a focus on those who are typically disregarded from these opportunities.

Our Contributions So Far

We’re not just showing up — we’re building.

Breakthrough has already launched two major AI courses through the coalition:

• AI Citizen Science: A 40-hour, beginner-friendly course that empowers everyday people to use AI for community-driven research and innovation.
• AI for Social Impact: A 60-hour course exploring how AI can address challenges in health, education, and the climate crisis — taught through a lens of ethics and purpose.

These aren’t generic courses. They’re grounded in our community-first ethos. They’re designed to inspire confidence, curiosity, and practical skill — all completely free.

Today, we have:

• 13 online courses
• 218 course enrolments
• 178 students actively learning
• Over 900 questions and 180 quizzes in our system

And we’re just getting started.

Global Reach, Local Roots

Since joining the AI Skills Coalition, we’ve:

• Delivered our online courses to learners across the world, from students in rural Africa to career-changers in the UK.
• Participated in the “Closing the AI Divide” global webinar, bringing our grassroots insights to the coalition’s international forum.
• Embedded our content into a UN-backed platform that reaches thousands.

We’re proud that our locally-rooted approach to education — one that values lived experience, culture, and community — is now being scaled through this global partnership.

Why This Matters

Here’s the bottom line: the future is being written, fast, and too many people are excluded in this process.

The Breakthrough x AI for Good partnership helps change that.

Together, we are:

• Closing the AI skills gap by making knowledge accessible across geographies, languages, and income levels.
• Empowering marginalised learners — from prison leavers to long-term unemployed — to believe they belong in tech.
• Elevating unheard voices by centring real-world, culturally relevant content.
• Shaping global policy by bringing community perspectives into AI education discourse at the UN level.

This partnership doesn’t just help Breakthrough do more. It helps us do what matters most — at scale.

What’s Next?

With the official platform live and our courses gaining momentum, our eyes are set on the future.

We’re building:

• More courses focused on AI, justice, and liberation
• Live sessions with AI experts, mentors, and role models
• Community events that blend learning with lived experience
• Corporate and government partnerships that bring our programmes to even more people

We believe that AI is not just a technology — it’s a tool for liberation, dignity, and opportunity. And this partnership proves what’s possible when mission-driven organisations are given a global platform.

Final Thoughts

Together, we are proving that the future of AI isn’t exclusive — it’s inclusive.

And together, we’re making sure the world knows that “AI should be for everyone.”

Breakthrough is committed to this future. Are you?

Learn more about the AI Skills Coalition: aiforgood.itu.int
Explore our free AI courses: wearebreakthrough.co.uk/online-courses

Breakthrough x AI for Good: Why This is Our Most Important Partnership Yet was originally published in breakthrough on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.