In South Africa, a nationwide digital-literacy programme is aiming to equip 15 000 people with the skills to access services and opportunities online.

Bizcommunity reports that local youth organisation Digify Africa is working with the UK government’s Digital Access Programme – which focuses on providing more inclusive, affordable, safe and secure digital access to excluded and underserved communities in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia – to launch the DigifyBytes digital-literacy programme.

DigifyBytes’ goal is to educate youth, women, people with disabilities and the elderly on how to use basic digital literacy skills to foster social and economic development.

Antony Phillipson, British high commissioner to South Africa, says digital literacy is one of the major challenges that rural communities must overcome to participate in the digital economy. He adds that the programme will help to ‘equip rural communities in South Africa with knowledge and skills in digital technology, promoting digital inclusion and supporting inclusive economic growth’.

The one-year programme will run across rural communities and include topics such as gathering information, effective and easy communication, and how to access services and opportunities online.

8 February 2022
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