STEPPING UP TO SUPPORT DIGITAL INCLUSION

By Omar Mohammed

Rafiki Wema (RW), a local community organization currently runs digital inclusion projects that focuses on training communities to gain basic knowledge and skills of using computers and the internet. This is to increase communities’ access to digitally available services and increase their access to employment and other economic opportunities.

RW recognizes digital inclusion programs significantly reduces the ever-widening digital skills gap between our communities, hence introduces a digital ambassadors project. Under this project, we train the trainers and equip them with basic computer and internet skills. What is unique with these digital inclusion interventions is that it identifies specific digitally excluded communities with tailored programs that support them to get the digital skills they are lacking. The current program targets communities with African descendants, I e, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Gambia, and Kenya, as well as new arrivals from Afghanistan. Once beneficiaries finish their training, they get tied to specific community hubs or faith centers, where communities meet for assistance and service. And further they continue supporting and strengthening their people with digital skills and training they received.

We are currently delivering two projects in this area. Digital ambassadors, in which we are training 9 digital ambassadors, who upon completion of their training will be able to support various communities in London. Apart from the digital skills training, we offer them free phone credit, free sim cards and phone data and devices that are subject to availability. This is to ensure that they are connected and be able to support their communities with the much-needed digital skills and knowledge.

Because digital exclusion is a multidimensional phenomenon, RW structures all training to address the lack of digital skills as well absence of community networks and structure. So, offering community activism workshops and seminars to digital ambassadors enables them to understand how various communities experience digital exclusion, and what are the driving forces that would be different across various communities and societies. The program is supported by the Good Things Foundation.

The organization also delivered an introduction to computers to over 20 participants from across London. This training is short compared to digital ambassadors’ one but focuses only on computer and online skills. Under this initiative, we target young adults, and women who usually are highly likely to suffer digital inclusion. RW trains them to use computers, office applications, online search engines and online safety and security.