Today, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a leading pan-African organization for digital rights and inclusion, celebrates 15 years of improving the lives of over 5,000 underprivileged African youth by providing them with better livelihoods through digital opportunities and the protection of their online rights.
PIN has contributed significantly to Internet Freedom for more than eight years by making policy recommendations, analyzing the legal and regulatory environment around the continent’s Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), and advocating for civil rights.
The organization’s expertise in ICT capacity building, research, and reports has reinforced this contribution.
The organization has guided many non-profit organizations and educational institutions through its yearly digital rights reports on using ICTs for digital security, online activism, and social media advocacy.
Numerous events are being arranged to honor this milestone, beginning with a dinner and awards ceremony that will take place in Lagos, Nigeria. PIN will recognize people, stakeholders, and partner organizations at the dinner event who have helped the organization achieve its goals. Additionally, the evening will provide a forum for candid conversations on PIN’s journey and success stories.
PIN, which has regional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, is hosting a debate competition where young Africans can express their opinions. The theme of the debate is “Are the Social and Cultural Norms in Africa impeding the Realization of Digital Rights and Inclusion?”
Eight contestants from Benin were chosen from a pool of 321 entries (249 in English and 72 in French).
The event honors the teamwork to improve digital rights and inclusion in Africa over the years. PIN will highlight its work and the organization’s impact through partnerships during the event in Harare.
In a statement before the festivities, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of the Paradigm Initiative, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to digital inclusion and the scaling up of digital skills. He added that program participants live better lives and have more internet freedom because of increased awareness of their online rights.
The organization’s flagship program, Digital Inclusion, which comprises Life Skills, ICTs, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Training (LIFE), and the Digital Readiness Program for Girls, has primarily been responsible for this success.
In addition, the initiative has been introduced in secondary schools through LIFE@Schools Clubs.
Students in the technology club receive weekly instruction in the LIFE program’s curriculum as they advance their digital literacy.
A virtual version of the LIFE training program was introduced by PIN at the start of the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), allowing the organization to train young people in 12 African nations, including Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
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