Facebook launches “My Digital World” to equip Youths across Sub-Saharan Africa with Digital Literacy skills
Today, Facebook (www.facebook.com) announced the launch of “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. 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.
Commenting on the announcement, Phil Oduor, Policy Programs Manager for Economic Impact and Digital Literacy, Facebook said: “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 commence from today June 15th, 2020, with the programme including:
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Up to 90-minutes Instructor-led live webinars featuring presentations, demos and virtual discussions
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Digital marketing campaigns highlighting best practices, tips, quizzes
and polls on digital literacy topics, with content delivered through
Facebook and Instagram
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Modules on online safety, privacy, news and media literacy, and digital citizenship
Facebook is committed to the well-being of individuals and communities visiting its platforms and has invested in initiatives designed to build awareness on responsible online behaviour, critical thinking and understanding of social issues. Facebook has instituted policies, tools, resources, partnerships, and programmes to help enable safe, responsible, and beneficial use of its platforms.
Facebook Digital Literacy programmes
Safe Online with Facebook: Facebook joined forces with Co-Creation Hub and Junior Achievement Nigeria for the Safe Online programme, a 12-week after school workshop which was designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of online safety and digital literacy. Last year, the programme also 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.
Ilizwe Lam: In partnership with Digify Africa, Facebook launched Ilizwe Lam a digital literacy programme which offered youth communities in secondary schools and afterschool programmes on how to stay safe online including, online safety, privacy, news literacy and digital citizenship skills.
eZibo: Partnered with Asikana Network in Zambia to offer youths in secondary schools and afterschool programmes vital training around responsible social media usage, online safety, privacy, news literacy and digital citizenship skills.
My Digital World: 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
