By Bertha Badu-Agyei
Kyebi, Sept. 27, GNA-Care for Society Network International (CfSNI) a not-for-profit organisation focused on education, especially the girl child has inaugurated a multi-functional Digital Learning Centre at Kyebi, to bridge the gap between rural communities and the digital age.
The Gh557,000-cedi facility is designed to provide Basic Computer Literacy, Coding and Programming, Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Robotics and Practical Innovation among others for the benefit of communities in the area.
Mrs Anita Ampofoa Amoako-Gyimah, Founder and Executive Director of CfSNI, said the world was changing rapidly, and technology was no longer a reserve for urban dwellers since digital knowledge was key in communication, access to services and problem solving.
Coding, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and other forms of digital technology are shaping the careers and economies of the future, however, many children in rural and underserved communities are excluded due to access to computers, reliable internet connectivity and structured digital-learning programmes or centres.
“The Centre represents hope, inclusion and determination to ensure that children in the communities were not spectators of the digital revolution but active participants expanding their horizon beyond their locations and situations.”
Mrs Amoako-Gyimah acknowledged the financial support of Comic Relief and the Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, provided through STAR-Ghana Foundation and the West Africa Civil Society Institute.
Nana Abena Agyapomaa Akoto, Sompahemaa of Akyem Abuakwa traditional area. said technology now shapes almost every aspect of human life, yet access remains unequal “while many children in the urban areas are exposed to computer technology, countless children in rural and underserved communities face significant barrier.”
She described the digital divide as not merely a technological challenge but an educational, economic, and social development change which could risk creating a future where a child’s circumstance determines the opportunities in the modern economy.
The Sompahemaa therefore advised parents to encourage their children as well as support them with needed logistics, especially the girl child, to pursue such opportunities.
Care for Society Network International was established in 2011 out of a simple but powerful conviction that every child, regardless of their backgrounds deserves an opportunity to learn, grow and build a hopeful future,
Over the years, it has distributed books and educational materials to schools, libraries and communities creating reading opportunities for thousands of children, particularly those living in communities where access to books and learning resources remains limited.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted classroom education and many rural children could not access online learning platforms, CfSNI introduced the Deep Reach Community Radio Learning Programme reaching out to approximately 30,000 children across 13 districts.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei