Creating an Inclusive Ideal Internet; Lessons Learnt from Digital Ambassadors Program 2022 by Pollicy
In today’s digital world, it is imperative to have the knowledge and skills to navigate the online landscape safely and effectively. That is why the Digital Ambassadors Programme (DAP), birthed by Pollicy, is such a valuable initiative. Running in selected universities in Uganda and Tanzania, the programme aims to equip young people with digital safety skills to help them take advantage of digital opportunities. In this blog, we will take a closer look at the key learnings and achievements of the first year of the programme.
In 2022, Pollicy started implementing the Digital Ambassadors Programme (DAP), aimed at giving young people the skills and information they need to stay safe online. The programme’s training sessions, mentorship, gatherings, and networking opportunities are all aimed at assisting participants in developing their digital resilience and establishing themselves as resources in their communities.
In its first year, a total of 100 digital ambassadors were selected out of a pool of over 467 applicants to be part of the first ever cohort. They underwent a full year of virtual and physical sessions on data visualization, social media skills, online content creation, and digital safety as part of needed digital skills that young people identified through a needs assessment
One of the key achievements of the programme has been the growth and development of the participants. As Audrey Carol from Kyambogo University (Uganda) noted, “As a person who loves IT, I got to understand deeper certain things I had never thought were possible like how we get hacked via VPN and sharing of private information in the name of applying for free things that are lied about, also got to know how to tell secure sites and many more things I learned and I’m happy I was part of the programme.”
The way we work, live, and communicate with one another has been completely transformed by the internet. For young people, especially in the global south, it continues to open up new possibilities for growth in terms of economic opportunity, education, and personal development. With the help of the internet, young people can access a wealth of knowledge, connect with people around the globe, and pursue their interests and passions. However, the internet also has its own unique set of problems, such as threats to online safety and the dissemination of false information. Young people must therefore acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to use the internet safely and effectively, especially in the developing world. By utilizing the resources offered by the internet, young people can empower themselves to create a better future and contribute to the growth of their local communities and the global community.
“I was fond of using VPNS for the Internet, for example Tunnel VPN, Wire tun , Droid VPN which put my data at risk. However, through Pollicy trainings, I got to know the risks with the use of free VPNs and I have refrained from using them.” mentioned Barasa John Okotch, Kyambogo University (Uganda).
What started out as a one-pager idea, grew to a fully funded one-year project in Uganda and Tanzania, bringing together 50 confirmed youths from 7 higher learning institutions, 8 contracted trainers, and 7 stakeholder partners. As Pollicy, this has encouraged us to strengthen our approaches and methodologies in order to equip more young people in higher learning institutions to be able to harness digital opportunities while they are young. For us, the Digital Ambassadors Program has challenged us to learn and explore more innovative ways to design better youth inclusive programs to allow young people to fully take charge in pressing challenges brought by internet growth. Our dream is to see young people especially from Africa at the forefront of small data and big data conversations such as AI, IoT, Virtual Realities amongst others.
For example, to close off Phase One of DAP, we at Pollicy held physical events in both Tanzania and Uganda. Unlike their Ugandan counterparts, the Tanzanian ambassadors had never met physically before. Their joy and excitement was astounding, as it was felt from the WhatsApp group conversations, to the road trips on the way to the event, and finally to the meetup itself. In both countries, the ambassadors led the event program, showcasing the skills they had learned, addressing the challenges they face in academic institutions as well as extracurricular activities in a world that is growing digitally and building long-lasting connections with each other. The physical meetup focused on equipping them with digital safety and security skills. Common topics included:- digital laws, cyberbullying, digital education, responsible digital citizenship, device security and protection
As Elizabeth Frank from the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy noted; “In the physical event I had a good opportunity to learn many digital related issues including how I can keep myself safe online but it was also a good opportunity for me to learn a lot trainers and fellow ambassadors practically and I was able to realize my potential through this event so it was a very good experience for me.”
There have been difficulties along the way even though the program has been successful in many ways. These difficulties have taught us important lessons that will guide the program’s future revisions. For instance, it is now obvious that the participants require ongoing support and mentoring to enable them to further their acquisition of digital skills and knowledge.
The Digital Ambassadors enrolled in the program have gained a deeper understanding of the digital world while also having the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge required to navigate safely on the internet as well as leading conversations and challenging their governments on regulatory frameworks and status quo of digital rights in Tanzania and Uganda. Our Digital Ambassadors of 2022 are on the run this 2023 to create a network of more young people who are upskilled with digital skills; they have formulated action plans to guide them on how they share the knowledge they have received. This provides us with a great lesson that when young people are equipped well, they can lead to build better digital citizenship which is mostly needed amidst global internet growth.
Phase II of the DAP Program (2023) will soon take off, this time targeting more young people with greater interactive sessions. Stay posted on our social media for updates of the program in the near future!
The 2022 Digital Ambassadors Programme was supported by Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) & Open Society Foundation (OSF), University of Dodoma, University of Dar es Salaam, Kyambogo University, Uganda Christian University, Busitema University, Tanzania Institute of Accountancy, Tumaini University and our partners FundiBots, LaunchPad TZ, Omuka Hub, Tanzania Data Lab, Success Hands Initiative, and ITAU.
Written by Rachel Magege, Navina Mutabazi and Ibrahim Waiswa Batambuze for Pollicy.
