Digify Africa and UK govt partner to launch DigiBytes

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The project, which will be implemented across all nine provinces in South Africa, will seek to equip youth, women, persons with disabilities and the elderly with basic digital literacy skills for social and economic development.

Access to digital skills and literacy remains a critical challenge for marginalised communities with many South Africans facing barriers like access to the internet, high data costs, and, most importantly, basic digital literacy.

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These factors were further exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with a Statistics South Africa 2020 report citing that only 37% of South African households have access to the internet through cell phones or computers which hinders communities from leveraging digital tools for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Digify Africa and the UK Government have joined forces to tackle this challenge through the DigifyBytes project. The one-year programme, which has a target of 15,000 beneficiaries in rural communities, to enable them to utilize digital tools to access information, communicate with ease, and take advantage of services and opportunities online.

"We are thrilled to be embarking on a partnership of this magnitude with the UK Government, an organisation invested in bringing real value to communities. We are confident that DigifyBytes will enable participants to engage with digital tools in meaningful ways for professional and economic development," said Qhakaza Mohare, chief operating officer, Digify Africa

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“Digital literacy is one of the key barriers for rural communities who wish to participate in the digital economy. I am thrilled that the UK Government can support the DigifyBytes programme, helping to equip rural communities in South Africa with knowledge and skills in digital technology, promoting digital inclusion and supporting inclusive economic growth, ” said Antony Phillipson, British high commissioner to South Africa.