We are often asked, ‘why computer labs, when Africa faces many other challenges?’ Our response: we can either continue to give Africa handouts, or we can invest in the infrastructure that will enable young Africans to solve Africa’s problems.
While access to mobile devices is on the rise, many young people in Africa do not have basic computer literacy, which improves chances of employment and better prepares them to enter the modern job market.
Our theory of change hinges on the belief that improved computer literacy will equip young Africans with the necessary skills to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world, fostering personal growth and community empowerment.
Multiple studies recognize that being able to access and participate in the digital world is one of the surest ways to lift millions out of poverty. Rwanda and Botswana for example has implemented a strong ICT in education policy and have made significant financial investments to see the reality of it. As a result, Rwanda is reaping dividends including being able to boast of high per capita incomes, is amongst the top recipients of foreign investments per capita and has an extremely low unemployment rate.
The Brookings Institute notes: “the spread of digital technologies can empower the poor with access to information, job opportunities and services that improve their standard of living.” Unfortunately, despite the indicators that point to the enormous benefits of ensuring that African youth are computer literate, the knowledge gap remains extremely wide.
Often, the focus of aid to Africa is as a response to crisis situations. These are of course necessary interventions, but when the cameras have turned away, African nations find it challenging to raise the capital that is needed to help them develop human capacity in urgent areas such as digital inclusion, which has the potential of lifting millions out of poverty and ensuring that Africans themselves can work to avert the crisis.
Equipping every African high school student with a computer would be inefficient and costly. However, studies show that there are innumerable benefits to allocating limited resources for digital literacy to schools.
Youth Action International’s mission is to increase computer literacy across Africa through the Transcend Project. We are currently evaluating the impact of our first two computer labs under this model and plan to establish eight additional labs by the end of 2023. With successful evaluations from the initial 10 labs, we will roll out an ambitious plan to equip every high school in Liberia and Sierra Leone with a computer lab within ten years.
Through the Transcend program, we have developed a model to deliver computer labs to high schools at a very low cost which includes renovating the space, furnishing with desks and chairs, installing ten computers, a projector and a white board. This also includes the cost of recruiting and training an instructor and operating the lab in conjunction with the school for a year before turning it over to the school’s administration.
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