Social media giant Facebook has consolidated its digital literacy programmes and is looking to equip 20 000 African youth with digital skills.
In merging the digital literacy programmes, Facebook this week launched “My Digital World”, a programme designed to equip the youth and general public across Sub-Saharan Africa with digital skills needed to navigate the digital world.
The consolidated programmes include Safe Online with Facebook, Ilizwe Lam and eZibo, and will be offered virtually this year to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the social media company says it has, over the years, trained thousands of people on digital literacy skills and is this year preparing to train close to 20 000 participants across South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire and Ethiopia on safe, responsible and beneficial usage of the digital platforms.
Commenting on the announcement, Phil Oduor, policy programmes manager for economic impact and digital literacy at Facebook, says: “We remain committed to equipping young people and the general public across Sub-Saharan Africa with the vital digital skills needed to navigate the digital world, especially during these challenging times of COVID-19.
“Never has it been more important to invest in, and train communities and the next generation of leaders to better understand and utilise the power of digital tools to take full advantage of what the Internet has to offer.”
The training is free and open to youths aged 13 years and above, and will also focus on teachers, parents and guardians.
The sessions commenced this week, with the programme including up to 90 minutes of instructor-led live webinars featuring presentations, demos and virtual discussions.
It also includes digital marketing campaigns highlighting best practices, tips, quizzes and polls on digital literacy topics, with content delivered through Facebook and Instagram.
The programme has modules on online safety, privacy, news and media literacy, and digital citizenship.
Facebook joined forces with Co-Creation Hub and Junior Achievement Nigeria for the Safe Online programme, a 12-week after-school workshop designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of online safety and digital literacy.
Last year, the programme held four Safe Online Forums, bringing together stakeholders such as education officials, school leaders and administrators, teachers and education-focused NGOs to deliberate strategies to ensure online safety of learners in schools across the country.
In partnership with Digify Africa, Facebook launched Ilizwe Lam in SA, a digital literacy initiative which offered youth communities in secondary schools and after-school programmes guidance on how to stay safe online, also covering privacy, news literacy and digital citizenship skills.
On eZibo, Facebook partnered with Asikana Network in Zambia to offer youths in secondary schools and after-school programmes training around responsible social media usage, online safety, privacy, news literacy and digital citizenship skills.
In partnership with iEARN Kenya, Facebook is supporting teachers by providing virtual sessions with the aim of equipping them with knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to guide their learners on how to navigate the digital world responsibly and safely.