{A new youth-led initiative in Rwanda will transform the lives of 5 million citizens by bringing them online and providing digital skills training in their communities through the newly announced Digital Ambassador Program (DAP).}
In partnership with Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) and the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Internet for All Northern Corridor initiative, Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Information Communication Technology (MYICT) will be spearheading a push to train youth to provide internet access, digital skills training, and to create jobs across the country.
Based on DOT’s youth-led development model, DAP will train 5,000 young Rwandans as Digital Ambassadors who will offer digital skills training to 5 million Rwandans so they can access online opportunities and e-government services.
“Digital Ambassadors will receive the digital, leadership and training skills they need to respond to the unique needs and challenges of their communities,” said Janet Longmore, founder and CEO of DOT.
“DAP is an innovative and youth-led approach to economic development and digital inclusion – we are inspired by the commitment our network of partners in Rwanda to making this a highly impactful initiative that will create new opportunities and transform communities.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean PhilbertNsengimana, shares, “The Digital Ambassador Program is a great initiative to achieve Rwanda’s Digital Talent Policy objectives. We strongly believe that digital literacy combined with internet access for all will accelerate Rwanda’s digital transformation toward a Smart Nation. The Government of Rwanda would like to thank all partners of the DAP and extends an invitation for others to join. This is an important step in a long journey of building a Smart Africa.’’
The WEF Internet for All initiative aims to create millions of internet users in the Northern Corridor of Africa, with an objective of adding 25 million new internet users to the region by 2019. Alex Wong, WEF Internet for All steering committee member, said, “The Rwanda Digital Ambassador Program is an example of the innovation and collaboration between government, civil society, and other key stakeholders that will mark a significant step forward to achieving our DOT Rwanda Remera Kigali, P.O. Box 5182 www.dotrust.org Page 2 project goals and, more importantly, position Rwanda with the ICT and internet skills, awareness, and content necessary to embrace and benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We congratulate Minister Jean PhilbertNsengimana and Janet Longmore for their leadership in launching this important program.”
DAP partners will collaborate based on core principles that respect and respond to the needs of local Rwandans, empower young women and men to become digital champions in their communities, and meet the unique needs of Rwandan women and girls. DAP was announced today at an event in Kigali, Rwanda, that gathered partners from across the private and civil sectors to plan the initiative’s launch in Rwanda.
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