PR99758

KIRUHURA, Uganda, March 13, 2023 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

DigiTruck will provide free digital skills training for more than 10,000

beneficiaries.

Ugandan President H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially launched a new

DigiTruck project in Uganda.

The project will provide free training in digital skills for more than 10,000

beneficiaries over three years.

Launched on March 8 at an event celebrating International Women's Day (IWD) in

Kiruhura District, the DigiTruck project is a part of Huawei's

TECH4ALL initiative, the company's long-term initiative for driving inclusion

and sustainability across the globe.

President Yoweri Museveni commented in a tweet, "I launched the Huawei

DigiTruck project in Uganda. A project that will benefit over 10,000 Ugandans

in a span of 3 years especially jua-kali, enterprise owners, women, young girls

and students through Digital Skilling." He added that, "Digital transformation

is one of the key drivers of effective human capital development, it therefore

gives me pleasure to launch this Huawei Project."

In line with the IWD theme of 'DigitAll: Innovation for a gender equal future'

and Uganda's national theme of 'Equal Opportunities in Education, Science

Technology for Innovation and a Gender Equal Future', priority beneficiaries of

the Uganda DigiTruck project include girls and women. Other target

beneficiaries are young people and 'Jua-Kali' micro and small business owners.

"Digitization of Jua Kali enterprises will create sustainable livelihood

opportunities for the informal sector, as it will enable small businesses to

participate in regional and national trade, expand the customer landscape, and

allow businesses to provide clients with a greater range of services and

products," said Col. Rtd Okello P. Charles Engola, Minister of State for

Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations in Uganda. "The training will also

improve financial inclusion through improved ability to operate mobile money

operations and expand employment opportunities, especially in rural areas."

Running in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social

Development and the international social enterprise Close the Gap, the Uganda

DigiTruck project is aligned with the nation's 2040 vision, National

Development Plan, and Education Digital Agenda Strategy. The focus of these

initiatives includes promoting digital foundation skills, digital

communications and information, digital transactions, using the Internet for

problem-solving, online safety, civic responsibility, and data privacy.

"As an international social enterprise that exists to bridge the digital

divide, Close the Gap believes that access to digital skills is key to

empowering individuals economically and socially," said Francisca Muema,

DigiTruck Project Manager from Close the Gap.

Converted from used shipping containers, DigiTrucks are truck-mounted mobile

classrooms that can be driven to remote communities that lack training

facilities. Each 40-hour course trains students in digital literacy skills such

as how to use devices, office software, and the Internet, alongside soft skills

such as writing a resume, applying for jobs online, and running an online

business. Connected by 4G, the Uganda DigiTruck can accommodate 20 learners in

one session and comes equipped with a Huawei IdeaHub smart screen, smartphones,

and laptops. As all devices are solar powered, DigiTrucks can serve communities

that lack a power supply.

"This project will enable people in the most rural areas of Uganda to obtain

ICT skills and boost their businesses with e-commerce and online marketing.

This is why we have the slogan 'A better You for a Better Uganda'," said Gao

Fei, Managing Director for Huawei Uganda. "We will keep innovating and making

efforts with our partners to promote a more inclusive and sustainable digital

world for all."

Huawei has so far run DigiTruck projects in Kenya, Ghana, and France with a

focus on bringing digital skills to people that are most likely to be left

behind in the digital world, including rural communities, the elderly, and

unemployed youth, people with disabilities, and women.

About Huawei TECH4ALL

TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term digital inclusion initiative and action plan.

Enabled by innovative technologies and partnerships, TECH4ALL is designed to

help promote inclusion and sustainability in the digital world.

For more information, please visit Huawei TECH4ALL website at

https://www.huawei.com/en/tech4all

Follow us on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/HUAWEI_TECH4ALL

Source: Huawei

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=438885

   Caption: DigiTruck project launched by H.E. Yoweri K. Museveni, the President of the

Republic of Uganda