A gadget at a time: bringing all to the world through digital spaces

When I picked up the call from the community volunteer , I didn’t know what to expect. We had worked on the menstrual hygiene awareness events together on 21^st and 27^th December 2024. It was our first time meeting but she is the kind of person you’d feel like you’ve known forever.

Interesting that her name is Joy and she sure knows how to bring joy to every encounter. Our call began on a high note, with her just saying: wow, I’ve seen our photo on Instagram! It caught me by surprise (a pleasant one for sure) as she just jumped straight to say that before I finished my “hallo”- the plain and usual response to a phone call.

Joy changed my mood immediately as she went ahead to tell me how she had to look for some of the girls we had at the event to show them the photo on Instagram . As much as they were excited, they barely knew what Instagram is. A few had heard about it but don’t know how it works or what it really means to ‘be on Instagram’.

She had to make all the effort to give them information about it and even demonstrate to them on her cell phone . A few of them could relate based on a little experience on Facebook.  But the concept of digital tools and platforms are still farfetched for these rural girls and young women.

The whole experience got me in deep thoughts of how much stories and experiences are hidden from the world. Millions of girls and young women go about life, beating the odds of societal norms, scrapping through difficulties to get some education,  either escaping or falling prey to harmful practices like FGM and early marriages but their resilience through all of it might never be seen by anyone in the world outside their small villages.

Working with these girls and young women through their journey offers an opportunity to bring their stories to the world. But it gets difficult to capture the true essence of their experiences . My conversation with Joy actually made me realize how posting photos from our events on Instagram or any other platform is just one step towards the goal of the world caring about the issues faced by these girls and young women.

I imagined how it could be if they were able to do the posts themselves and put their experiences in their own words. They’d possibly give a true picture of what they are trying to overcome and build for a better future.

For this is what they talk about during the mentorship sessions, they want to see a different world from what they’ve grown up in.

Digital spaces have changed the world, they’ve connected people from every corner of our planet and allowed them to share their stories and support one another.

Africa has not been left behind in the Digital revolution and so many lives have changed through stories, connections and support. Job opportunities are being created in the digital spaces and education is becoming more accessible.  But there is still a big gap to fill in terms of access and affordability of the tools especially by women and girls who are often financially constrained.

There also remains the obstacles of navigating digital safety concerns for women and girls as the spaces have been turned into weapons to shame and attack them. Most young women have actually raised fears of avoiding the platforms because of safety concerns.

However , the benefits of using the internet to access the world and being visible outweigh the demerits. More women and girls need to be accelerated through training for digital skills to get full benefits. With proper information on how to use the tools and platforms, these women and girls should get the power to be present where it matters and tell their stories.

Joy called me back a few days ago, and with more good news. She has been training some of the girls who are out of high school on how to use a computer and internet. As a volunteer, she decided to use her personal laptop since the girls don’t own any neither have smartphones.  Sometimes , we just need to appreciate and start with what we have instead of waiting for more which we aren’t sure if we will get. As an adage goes: a bird at hand is better than several in the bush.

We can get our girls out to the world, one cellphone or laptop at a time.

From Joy’s small idea and with her laptop and cellphone, I made a plan to contribute for their internet connection every month. And every Saturday , a number of girls sit with her to learn a thing or two on digital skills.

From small thoughts and ideas, women and girls around the world are changing their lives and narratives. I ponder on my journey in the digital world since I joined World Pulse 16 years ago. Coming across the platform on Google while searching for opportunities to support my education.

It was a moment of despair as I’d dropped out of university due to financial constraints. But I look back at how fortunate I was to have internet access . I would go to a cyber Café in my neighborhood and use any available coin to browse through looking for opportunities.

Though I never got a scholarship online, I was introduced to many other opportunities and connections through the internet. Through World Pulse, I met friends in Kenya and even one from the US who we worked on an idea for a little while. All these have shaped my world and contributed to my work with communities especially girls and women. I draw my inspiration and ideas from such experiences and what other women do in their communities.

As we plan to celebrate the International Women’s Day in a week’s time, let us keep the spirit of connection and solidarity alive. Let us purpose to bring our sisters who are still left behind the digital world to the spotlight and afford them the opportunities we are enjoying. “If you want to go

faster, walk alone; but if you want to go further, walk with people”. Our solidarity is our strength.

Happy International Women’s Day.