Mondo’s Digital Competencies training
Digitalisation can be a story of hope and opportunities. But it can also be a story of being left out, of being stranded on the other side of the digital gap. We want to change that.
NGO Mondo’s Digital Competencies Training gives refugee youth, teachers and vulnerable communities the skills and tools needed to actively participate in society.
Mondo’s Digital Competencies Training (DCT) is about digital literacy and computer skills, but it’s also about using digital devices and the Internet proactively as a tool to engage with society on a professional, educational and personal level.
While also encompassing the basics of device usage, the program puts a special emphasis on safety and problem-solving. To further the impact, smartphones are central to the program – as the participants are most likely to own a smartphone as their first digital device, the training provides them with relevant and easily applicable everyday skills.
Mondo’s DCT is based on the DigComp framework and has been developed with the Principles for Digital Development in mind. The structure of the training is based on the five key aspects of the European Commission’s DigComp framework: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem-solving. Exact lesson plans are adjusted to fit the baseline knowledge level of each beneficiary group.
Before starting the training, our team conducts a needs assessment on location. Based on the findings, we adjust a suitable lesson plan based on a variety of content modules:
- Apps to Develop Literacy
- Computer ABC
- Digital Safety and Hygiene
- Google Tools and Online Presence
- ABC of Smartphone Photography
- ABC of Smartphone Videography
- ABC of Design
- ABC of Financial Literacy and Business
- Entrepreneurship in Digital Settings (mini-hackathon)
- Social Media and Marketing
- Creating a Website
The content modules have been created with input from researchers from Tallinn University’s School of Digital Technologies and private sector experts in Estonia.
Our work
Mondo’s Digital Competencies Training has been implemented in East Africa and the Middle East. We have been training refugee youth in Uganda since 2019 and refugees in Jordan and disadvantaged youth in Syria.
In 2021 Digital Competencies Training was expanded to teachers in Uganda and Kenya, and to refugee women in Kenya.
We have adjusted the training both to a beginner level and mid-level audience and in each location, the training is adjusted to the local context and beneficiary base-level skills. The material is currently available in English and Arabic.
Stories from our graduates
I discovered that you need to start something that you are good at. I started a non-profit organisation Inspiring Today that works with young men like me, mostly refugees, to empower their lives in different aspects through motivational speeches. I asked myself: “Why can’t I bring it online?”. Mondo taught me those skills. Though I don’t have a computer, I can use my phone to reach many. The Mondo Digital Competencies Training makes people discover that even smartphones do the same as computers.”
Joseph
18-year-old Congolese refugee
Completed his training at Young African Refugees for Internal Development (YARID) community centre in Kampala, Uganda
“Mondo Digital Competencies Training covered a lot and it has really been of use to me. It taught me about protection and safety matters such as setting strong passwords, ensuring privacy, how to take good photos and edit them. On the other hand, it has helped me to market my products on WhatsApp, Facebook and associate with other people on social media. It has also helped me to get more exposed. Most of the NGOs where I have volunteered have considered me because I have completed the digital competencies training.”
Edith
23-year-old salon owner from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Completed her training at FCA’s Vocational Training Centre in Kyaka II refugee settlement, Uganda
“Digital competencies are required because without them it is difficult to find a job these days. All jobs require digital skills to some extent. The most useful skills I learnt from the Mondo Digital Competencies Training were about creating a strong password for my social media accounts, how to set up a Google account and use different Google tools. After completing the Mondo Digital Competencies Training, my friends and I started a marketing company called E-MAX. I use Google Sheets to keep track of company expenses to manage resources and Google Slides to make presentations of the business.”
Christian
21-year-old Congolese refugee
Completed his training at Young African Refugees for Internal Development (YARID) community centre in Kampala, Uganda
“After completing the Mondo Digital Competencies Training, I have been teaching my friends about smartphones. They told me they do not know how to open the phone, how to register the numbers. I taught them that and now I am teaching them how to go on Google.”
Premitiva
21-year-old Burundian refugee
Completed her training at FCA’s Vocational Training Centre in Kyaka II refugee settlement, Uganda
Why Mondo’s Digital Competencies training?
Mondo’s Digital Competencies Training begun in 2017 as a collaboration between NGO Mondo, Tallinn University and experts from the Estonian start-up sector. We brought together people who help kick-start start-ups and inspire entrepreneurs through hackathons with people who work with teachers and digitalisation in public education. The collaboration between digital entrepreneurs and providers of public services has been one of the key components in Estonia’s success globally. Our aim is to bring Estonian digital success to Mondo’s humanitarian aid programmes as well.
Despite its small size, Estonia is a digital society where many ground-breaking start-ups originate from. Estonian basic education is number one in Europe and among the best in the entire world. Digitalisation has simplified a lot in Estonia – it is normal for Estonians to use online services to report their taxes in 3 minutes or register a new business in 15 minutes. Click on the links to read more about the start-up scene and education system of Estonia.
How can you Contribute?
Although the Internet is considered a human right in Estonia, it is not the case in many places of the world. The data connection prices in Eastern Africa are times higher than those in Estonia and become one of the major challenges for digital competencies trainings. It costs around 180 euros to enable an Internet connection for 40 learners to pass Mondo DCT. Contribute to Mondo’s Brilliant Fund to help us cover that cost and reach more beneficiaries.
If you would like to contribute with your skills and knowledge, please see our open volunteer positions for any matches or e-mail us with any concrete idea or proposal.
Mondo’s Digital Competencies Training´s webpage has been financed by Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the funds of development cooperation and humanitarian aid.