Youth in Tana River County to benefit from digital literacy

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Friday September 8, 2023

KNA by Simon Guruba

Youth in Tana Delta will now be able to acquire and upgrade their skills in various aspects of technology following the launch of the first digital village hub in the region dubbed Life Legacy.

The project supported by Paradigm Initiative in partnership with Amani Centre has rolled out a pilot programme that will see more than 20 students from poor families equipped with digital skills.

According to the Paradigm Initiative Programme Officer Miriam Beatrice, the idea is an integrated development vision, that enshrines the digitalization of the core of rural transformation and prosperity to address socio-economic elements.

 "Our main focus is to address the problem of poverty and unemployment using IT as a source of self-employment, and with this, we target the underprivileged people," she said.

 According to Ms Beatrice, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics places Tana River County among the underserved communities, with an illiteracy level of more than 69 percent, a poverty rate at 76.1 Percent, and a digital literacy rate of less than five percent hence appropriate for the program. 

 She notes that the programme which shall be running for ten weeks would seek to equip the selected students with skills in digital marketing, digital entrepreneurship, App Development, and Life Skills to maneuver the digital space.

 "There is a lot that Kenya needs that requires digital solutions. Therefore, ours is to ensure that these chosen few become the solution to rural transformation through developing quick digital solutions to complex issues in the society," she said.

 Amani Centre Managing Director John Green termed the project a dream come true, as it is in keeping with the direction the world is taking.

Mr Green reiterates the need for the youth in the county to embrace acquisition of knowledge in the currently transforming phase of technology.

 "The world has shifted from institutional employment to self-employment and the biggest investment is in ICT know-how, which, we believe the underserved communities need," he said.

 He notes that the world is headed towards e-health, e-education, and tourism all bolstered by digital technology. 

 He has challenged girls in the county who dropped out after class eight and those who have not managed to go beyond secondary school to take advantage of the free window to acquire some digital skills.

"This idea is not limited to learned people, all it needs is someone with an interest and is determined to become something in life. This is the chance to stand out and make a name for yourself in this county," he said.

The youth in the county have expressed delight for the project, and are buoyant that it shall impact them with the necessary digital skills to trade for cash in the massive digital world.

 "I look forward to starting my cyber security firm by the time I am finished with this program, If I have to learn more, then I will pursue that knowledge, but this is where it begins for me," said Regina Madubi, a student.

Madina Hamza however is determined to develop a proper Application that will function as an E-Market for agricultural products across the Tana River villages, where farmers and buyers could engage and negotiate freely.

Courtesy; KNA