Around the world, girls have limited access to digital devices and less skills and knowledge to use them compared to their male counterparts. Poverty, marginalization, gender stereotypes and poor infrastructure remain key obstacles that prevent girls from accessing technology. Bridging this digital divide is a matter of equity and sustainable development. Equipping girls with digital skills ensures they access learning content, quality information and can fully participate in today’s increasingly technology-driven world.
In Kenya, the Good Shepherd sisters and the Salesian sisters have joined forces to bridge the gender digital divide by giving girls access to digital tools, training and opportunities as part of the “Multi-Congregational Observatory to advance girls’ rights”. Thanks to the project, vocational training centers in Embu and Kitale were renovated and equipped with digital devices and modern furniture to provide participants with safe and interconnected spaces where they can access uninterrupted internet.
To date, 144 girls have received training in digital literacy. They’ve gained a wide range of practical skills, ranging from basic computer literacy to using Word and Excel, managing data, conducting research on the Internet, reporting cyberbullying and communicating effectively across digital platforms.
One of the participants 14-year-old Am Marion Nderema comes from a remote rural area where access to technology is very scarce. She always dreamed of owning her own phone or computer, but financial constraints, lack of digital literacy and cultural beliefs were significant barriers that had long prevented her from accessing the digital world.
I had nowhere I could access a computer comfortably and even if I did, I didn’t know how to use it. I always relied on my schoolmates to get some of the assignments done for me. My parents don’t own a smartphone, so I never had a chance to learn.
After enrolling in the Digital Literacy Skills Program at Good Shepherd Vocational Training Centre Kitale, Am Marion expanded her horizons. The internet and collaboration tools enabled her to view the world differently. She quickly developed a passion for technology and digital innovation – mastering basic computer operations, learning to use Microsoft Office applications, and even improving her typing speed with Typing Master.
Our tutor once told us that the only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today. I have believed in the process and began to unlock my desires. I can now operate a computer send a message using a smartphone, and even compute my exam results using Excel. It’s something I never imagined I could do.
The training improved her technical skills, but also boosted her self-confidence. Am Marion now aspires to start her own cybercafé in the future, a goal that she knows is within her reach thanks to the digital skills and knowledge she has acquired.
Gaining digital skills has been my dream come true
Like Am Marion, many other girl participants expressed newfound confidence in their skills and knowledge. The training provided them with a strong foundation to improve their academic performance and pursue careers in the information, communication, and technology sector. The impact of the project extended beyond the classroom. In their schools and communities, the girls are sharing what they’ve learned with their peers, helping them use available devices and mobile phones more effectively. This ripple effect has fostered stronger bonds, connections, and friendships between girls from different villages and schools as they come together to discuss, share and learn from one another about digital technology.
By investing in girls’ digital education, the Multi-Congregational Observatory is investing in a future where every young woman can connect, create, and contribute – ensuring that no one is left on the wrong side of the digital divide.
