By Ishmael Dumbuya
In a bid to expand digital connections across the country, Africell alongside Media Matters for Women on Wednesday May 9th empowered 300 women and girls by launching a digital truck aimed at providing digital skills training in rural communities.
The project involves the conversion of a 40 feet container into a mobile digital classroom geared towards bridging the technological gap for women and girls in the respective communities.
During the official launch of the truck, Africell’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Joe Abass Bangura voiced his company’s commitment to empowering young people through projects like this.
He furthered that such projects contribute to economic growth as well as showcasing unlimited possibilities for young people to explore.
MMW-SL, Board Chair, Khai Fornah, emphasized the project’s role in upgrading access to digital education for young people and girls in remote communities. She added that the initiative capacitate young women as well as enhance their growth.
Francisca Mueama, Close Gap Digital Truck Project Manager underscored the significance of bridging gender gap in the digital world.
“This project represents the 12th digital trucks in Africa, Sierra Leone hosts the first ever women-led digital truck and offers unlimited opportunities for female empowerment”, she highlighted.
The Keynote speaker from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs commended the project, adding that it is a milestone in achieving digital opportunities for women and girls. He noted that digital technology plays a crucial role in promoting gender equality and advancing Social Development Goals (SDG).
Recently, Africell and the United States Trade and Development Agency ventured into a partnership aimed at expanding digital connectivity across Sierra Leone particularly in rural communities
