Imagine going about daily life without a phone. This is the reality for many people around the world who have limited access to technology, especially girls with disabilities.
Children with disabilities are almost 50% more likely to have never attended school, due to lack of accessible learning materials and inclusive technologies. They are also nearly 50% less likely to have foundational reading and maths skills, compared to children without disabilities.
In poorer countries, girls are less likely to have access to the internet or own a mobile phone. Limiting their access to technology in an increasingly digital world means learning about technology is reduced, reinforcing existing inequalities that affect their future careers.
That’s why we’re working Association of Working Children and Youth (AEJT) to offer an inclusive digital education project in Uvira in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Community awareness sessions help to promote inclusion and reduce stereotypes related to disabilities.
Evidence shows improvement in digital skills, alongside increased confidence and hope for the future.
For girls like Mapendo, aged 16, who felt unable to take part in school, the impact is clear. Today, she can create presentations and communicate with others online, and she even helps others to grasp digital skills and concepts. She says:
This project has changed my vision of the future and given me hope to create my own business using digital technology.Mapendo, program participant
Partnerships between businesses and nonprofits can make a meaningful difference when young people’s futures are at risk of being lost to conflict and emergencies. By working together, organisations like HP and Theirworld have helped thousands of children continue learning during war in Ukraine. To explore how your organisation could support children’s education through partnership, visit Theirworld Corporate Partnerships.
