Don’t you just love the idea of Huawei’s DigiTruck? A mobile IT lab that’s fitted in a 40’ container on wheels. This computer lab on wheels is able to reach the most remote parts of Africa and take digital skills to people there. The DigiTruck is a solar-powered mobile classroom equipped with internet and smart devices. It is supported by various partners including the National Youth Council, UNESCO, GSMA, and Safaricom and contributes to the government’s Ajira initiative by enabling youth in rural areas to get the digital skills they need to thrive in society and the world of work. This is one sure way of making sure that nobody is left behind as the world continues marching towards bigger and better technology.
So noble is the idea that in its first year, Huawei has been able to train more than 1,500 youth across 13 locations in 10 counties with digital skills. This impact is encouraging enough to warrant year 2 of the DigiTruck hitting the road to even more areas with support of national agencies, county Governments and other implementing partners.
This announcement was made today when the DigiTruck arrived in Kitui to start four weeks of digital skills training for youth helping them do business and work online. It arrived from Nyeri where Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Joe Mucheru presided over the graduation of 100 youth and thanked Huawei and the National Youth Council for making sure the youth across Kenya received digital skills training
Digital equity and workforce development are essential if everyone is to participate in the digital economy. Training on the truck is provided by Computers For Schools Kenya (CFSK) who provide a 20-40 hour course covering using computers; common document, spreadsheets and presentation software; smartphones and the internet, so that they can find jobs online, buy and sell products online, study online and take advantage of the Ajira platform. They also learn about e-waste and being safe online. The Huawei DigiTruck is one aspect of Huawei’s digital skills training program that also include programs training youth at Universities and TVETs nationwide.
Huawei Digitruck is a program under Huawei Tech4all, a digital inclusion initiative focusing on three main areas namely technology, application and skills to empower people and organizations across the globe. The DigiTruck has been moving around the country providing digital skills. Despite a 3-month pause when the pandemic first broke, the DigiTruck resumed operations again in line with government health protocols. In its first year of operations the DigiTruck has provided over 22,000 hours of training for youth in Bomet, Embu, Kericho, Laikipia, Machakos, Meru, Nandi, and Nyeri so far.
