Facebook Inc. is bringing “My Digital World” – a programme designed to equip the youth and general public with digital skills to Subsaharan Africa. The company says the skills will enable the youth to navigate the digital world with even more ease.
My Digital World is a consolidation of all Facebook digital literacy programs including Safe Online with Facebook, Ilizwe Lam, and eZibo and will be offered virtually this year to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Facebook 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 Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, and Ethiopia on safe, responsible and beneficial usage of the digital platforms.
“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 utilize the power of digital tools to take full advantage of what the internet has to offer,” says Phil Oduor, Policy Programs Manager for Economic Impact and Digital Literacy at Facebook.
The training is free and open to youths aged 13 years and above, and will also focus on teachers, parents, and guardians. The sessions include:
- Up to 90-minutes Instructor-led live webinars featuring presentations, demos, and virtual discussions
- Digital marketing campaigns highlighting best practices, tips, quizzes and polls on digital literacy topics, with content delivered through Facebook and Instagram
- Modules on online safety, privacy, news, and media literacy, and digital citizenship
