Facebook launches virtual digital literacy programme with CcHUB, JAN, others

Facebook has launched a consolidation of all its digital literacy programmes, My Digital World. Due to the global pandemic, the programme will be offered virtually this year.

My Digital World includes Safe Online with Facebook, a 12-week after school workshop designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of online safety and digital literacy. Facebook joined forces with Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) and Co-creation Hub (CcHUB) to create the Safe Online programme.

Last year, four Safe Online Forums were held. The fora convened education officials, school leaders and administrators, teachers and education-focused NGOs to deliberate strategies to ensure online safety of learners in schools across Nigeria.

With operations in Nigeria (Abuja, Lagos and Ijebu) and Kenya, CcHUB is the largest innovation centre in Africa driving deeper use of innovation and technology across various sectors. Whereas, JAN is part of the Junior Achievement Worldwide. It delivers practical, experimental hands-on programmes on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship to young people between ages 5 and 27.

My Digital World is designed to equip the youth and general public across Sub-Saharan Africa with digital skills needed to navigate the digital world. The other programmes included in My Digital World consolidation are Ilizwe Lam and eZibo.

Over the years, Facebook has trained thousands of people on digital literacy skills. This year, Facebook aims to train close to 20,000 participants across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia on safe, responsible and beneficial usage of the digital platforms.

"We remain committed to equipping young people and 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", Phil Oduor, Facebook's Policy Programmes Manager for Economic Impact and Digital Literacy, said.

"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. It will also focus on teachers, parents and guardians. The sessions commence from June 15, 2020, with the programme including:

• 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

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.  It has also instituted policies, tools, resources, partnerships, and programmes to help enable safe, responsible, and beneficial use of its platforms.

The other programmes consolidated in My Digital World are:

1. 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.
2. eZibo: Facebook 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.
3. 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.

Cover image courtesy Digify Africa Facebook page.