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Introduction:
In the spirit of World Computer Literacy Day, which this year emphasizes “Literacy for human-centered recovery: narrowing the digital divide”, we at Project Hello World are proud to share our efforts in Uganda and Nepal. Through our Hello Hubs, we are actively contributing to this global mission, diminishing the digital divide in some of the most remote communities.
The Global Context:
This year's theme for World Computer Literacy Day resonates deeply with our mission. The day, celebrated on December 2nd, acknowledges the importance of computer literacy in a technology-driven world and emphasizes the need to make digital education accessible to all, echoing our own objectives at Hello World.
The Need:
In Uganda, where digital literacy is not uniformly accessible, the digital divide is stark. This gap is more pronounced in rural and hard-to-reach areas, precisely where our Hello Hubs are making a difference. The Hubs offer not just connectivity and solar power but a gateway to digital literacy, embodying the ideals of World Computer Literacy Day.
The Project:
In each community, we select children like Anna Pauline from Panykworo Hub in Gulu district, who, due to various reasons, may be out of school or lagging behind in their education. “My favorite thing on the tablet is counting numbers.” Pauline says as she taps and plays on the Hub Heros Library tablet. These children are introduced to digital literacy through engaging literacy and numeracy apps, both in English and their local language. Pauline uses the Onecourse app by Onebillion in English and learns to reads with Akili in English on the Hub Heroes Library Tablets.
The Impact:
Our project has seen remarkable success, with measurable improvements in literacy and numeracy, crucial steps in narrowing the digital divide. “Our pilot showed that children improved from their baseline score by 23% in literacy and 62% in numeracy over 12 months and after some significant changes to the programme, we are looking forward to seeing even greater increases with the results of the cohort ending in 2024.” Says Susan Akiror, who leads the programmes in Uganda. This progress not only empowers individual children but contributes to the broader goal of World Computer Literacy Day: creating a more inclusive and digitally literate global community.
Conclusion:
As we celebrate World Computer Literacy Day, the story of our Hello Hubs and their impact in Uganda is a testament to the power of technology in bridging educational gaps. It's a story that aligns with the global narrative of this year’s theme, underlining the importance of digital literacy in human recovery and development. A call to partners
