In Ghana, nearly 4,200 women took advantage of THP’s digital curriculum and training, including accessing workshops for agriculture, business skills, income generating activities, and more. Over 3,400 people participated in our specific digital skills training that improves digital literacy and accessibility.
In Malawi, when we started only 0.77% of women in the area reported using the internet. At the end of the program, in 2023, 47% had used it within the last 3 months. Smartphone ownership increased by 153% and cellphone usage doubled for both men and women.
In Mexico, 19,200 people now have access to digital resources through the ICT centers. The screen readers are incredibly popular here, particularly among women. They are supporting women with low vision and people with low literacy levels access the internet to improve their businesses and livelihoods.
Mobilizing community volunteers to help their neighbors who have been marginalized, particularly people with disabilities, understand that they can access the internet—that we can leverage technology and creativity so that they can benefit from this resource—has been a key to our success. In Malawi, trained volunteers visited 117 villages to raise awareness of accessible programs and tools available at ICT centers. Similarly, in Ghana, volunteers visited women’s groups in remote settings, to show them how the internet could help them reach their goals. These visits allowed people to experience connectivity firsthand, generated demand and encouraged community members to get more engaged with the ICT centers.
Embracing the Power of Connectivity
In each of the communities where we have supported connectivity, women and men are embracing the opportunity to learn, to build their businesses and achieve their vision for the future. This resource is supporting new pathways for development and supporting the next generation of leaders to unlock their full potential.
