While young people are at the forefront of digital adoption and innovation, significant disparities persist, particularly in low-income countries and among women and girls, who have less access to the internet and digital skills than their male counterparts. The collaborative research “How are the Girls? *”, conducted in 2021 across Nepal, South Sudan, Peru, India, Ecuador and Kenya, reached the same conclusion: girls miss out on educational opportunities due to limited access to technology, digital tools and the lack of necessary skills to use them. Building on the findings of the research, the project “Multi-Congregational Observatory to advance girls’ rights” implemented activities in the six target countries to facilitate access to innovative, quality digital learning and empower girls with skills to navigate the Internet effectively and safely:
Throughout 2024, schools and centers across the project’s various locations were equipped with laptops, tablets and wifi routers. Through digital literacy trainings, girls gained new skills on how to use laptops and programs, from email basics and navigating the internet to using Microsoft Suite and other digital tools. As a result, the girls feel empowered and on equal footing with other young people worldwide, as they can now use laptops to learn and access their rights. In addition, teachers and staff received training to learn how to manage technology and digital devices, enabling them to deliver online and hybrid classes confidently. Tailored curriculums were also designed to address specific needs and fill teachers’ gaps, as in India for example, where girls knew how to use social media while school teachers lacked the skills to run blended activities.
The digital world can be a hostile environment for women and girls. Research shows that they are 27 times more likely to face harassment online than men. Being exposed to streams of insults, hate speech and online threats discourages the use of technology and negatively influences girls’ wellbeing, leading to depression, low self-esteem and social withdrawal. To prevent online violence, young girls learned to identify and address cyberbullying and online sexual harassment, and to protect themselves from these threats. Training and awareness-raising sessions were not limited to students: teachers also participated in order to provide all stakeholders with the necessary tools to act as responsible and creative users and not fall prey to online negative dynamics.
Empowering and training girls is important, but it is not sufficient to guarantee their well-being and protection online. That’s why parents and caregivers were also involved in awareness-raising activities, which contributed to a change of mentality towards technology. For instance, in South Sudan, parents – initially hesitant – realized the opportunity this represented for their daughters to gain new computer skills. They were ready to support them and contributed to the creation of a more supporting and learning-friendly environment.
One of the other crucial components of the project was advocacy training: a group of 13 girls were trained in public speaking, writing and human rights advocacy. The training culminated in an online webinar held on the International Day of Human Rights in December 2024, where some of the girls from the advocacy team shared their views on the topics of digital education, online safety and mental health in front of an international audience.
Overall, the project “Multi-Congregational Observatory to advance girls’ rights” has proven to be a unique and transformative experience: it not only equipped girls with digital and professional skills but also empowered them to protect themselves from online threats and advocate for their rights. By enhancing peer to peer learning and knowledge-sharing within their communities, the project strengthened bonds and created a sense of community and mutual support. Girls represent the future of society, it is therefore crucial to empower them to fully exercise their rights in a safe online space. Ensuring that all young people have equal opportunities to harness the power of digital technology is not just a matter of equity, but a necessity for sustainable development.
*“How are the Girls” is a study on the rights of the girls during the COVID19-Pandemic conducted in collaboration with the Salesian Sisters, the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Combony Sisters and the Notre Dame des Mission Sisters.
