DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT OF TSHIMBUPFE TO BUILD RESILIENCE

The proposed project aims to sensitize, modernize, upgrade and update the digital infrastructure in rural areas to cope with the challenges posed by the Coronavirus. The project will help in empowering communities in the project site to adapt to the changing environment and prepare them for the future as well.

GOAL:
To enhance the resilience of local communities in remote villages to cope with COVID challenges through digital empowerment.
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES:
The project will directly benefit 10 000 community members across the project area. 2 000 individuals will be enrolled in individual digital training course, so as to launch their careers online.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
- To understand the existing status of digital literacy of local communities in remote villages.
- To develop a comprehensive action plan for digitally empowering the local communities in the project site.
- To use the research insights to build the capacities of the local communities through training and collaboration.

• A.Capacity Building of Community Members: We shall also provide to 2 000 individuals to enhance digital skills.

1. Create awareness posters and training material on digital empowerment and opportunities.
2. Conduct virtual training activities through online channels and social media.
3. Conduct online training sessions for identified youth

1. Basic Digital Training
2. Soft skills for digital economy
3. Specialized digital skills for ICT
4. Training of youth to launch their careers online’
5. Training of older people to adopt to changing technology
6. Training on using Online Payments, E-commerce sites etc.

1. Project Personnel: 1 Project Manager to be hired, 1 Centre incharge and three community mobilizers to be hired.
2. ICT material: This includes budget for the publication and printing of material, as the project seeks participation of community members, there will be a need to develop interesting and educative material in form of flyers, booklets, comic books, audio-visual aid.
3.   Capacity building: This includes the honorarium for the trainer, onsite field training, virtual training setup and training module development.
4. Digital Center establishment: Rent for the center and equipping the center with computers, printers and internet.

1. Project Manager: One Project manager will be hired who will be responsible for managing the project. He/ She will be responsible for developing linkages with local authorities, national and international digital service providers, and implementing the entire project.
2. Community Mobilizer: Three community mobilizers will be hired, who shall be responsible for conducting the survey and mobilizing the community to attend the awareness camps etc.
3. Centre Incharge: One centre incharge for managing the digital centre and also providing answers to all queries of the people.

So far we have not yet accomplished anything as this is still a concept.

The project will strengthen the inter-linkages between the local authorities, service providers and government schemes on digital transformation; thereby improving the present and future resilience of the communities against any pandemic and natural disasters.

The toolkits and awareness generation material will help in making community more aware about the importance of digitalization and these people will then act as the driving force to carry forward to the masses and the peers. Once the communities have learned the basics of digital development, they themselves will be in a position to update their own skills and continue to adapt to the changing technology. The involvement of local agencies and government offices will also ensure improvement and access to the government initiatives in this direction, as these agencies are permanent, they will help in sustaining the project activities beyond the project duration.