317 Persons with Disabilities equipped with digital skills. More to go! Last week, in partnered hip with @UCC_Official and @NUDIPU, @8TechConsults equipped 316 Persons with Disabilities in Kapelebyong and Ntoroko districts, under Phase 2 of the #ICT4PWDs Digital Skills Training. Through guided and hands-on learning, participants were trained on how to access information using digital innovations such as Soma Sente and Trusted Eyes, access and use use online services and explore opportunities in education, employment and business. With a target of 400 Persons with Disabilities across 8 districts in this phase, the programme is making significant progress towards equipping more Lersons with Disabilities with the skills to meaningfully meaningfully in the digital economy. 📍This week, our teams are in Bundibugyo and Amudat districts, continuing the mission to make digital opportunities more accessible to Persons with Disabilities. 🙏Follow our account and @ictforPWDs for more updates as we move toward the 400 target. #ICT4PWDs #8TechAt20

Happy New Week!🥳 Our team wishes you a week full of purpose, focus and success. How should we serve you this week? 🔗Check out our website for our service catalog: 8technologies.net/our-servic… #8TechAt20 #8TechSpotlight

Do you want to elevate your organizational systems management? Let us give your organisation the best upgrade it deserves. At @8TechConsults, we create custom websites and applications help organisations to simply operations, strengthen systems and unlock new opportunities. Whether you want to automate workflows, build a web or mobile application, integrate systems or harness AI and machine learning, we can help you move from challenges to solutions. For more information: 🔗: 8technologies.net/service/so… ☎️: 0778167775/ 0393256165 #8TechSpotlight #8TechAt20

In partnership with @UCC_Official and @UNADeaf, @8TechConsults recently conducted a needs assessment under the “Digitisation and Standardisation of Uganda Sign Language and Digital Inclusion of the Deaf Community in Uganda” project across the country. The assessment examined current use and accessibility of Uganda Sign Language, identified gaps and barriers faced by Deaf community in Uganda, in accessing information and digital services across the Health, Education, Justice and Policy sectors. Key findings revealed 3 critical gaps: 1️⃣ Many healthcare workers lack Uganda Sign Language skills, creating communication difficulties when Deaf persons seek medical attention. This limits effective interaction between patients and health professionals. 2️⃣ Despite policies supporting the education of learners with disabilities, many teachers lack the sign language skills needed to support Deaf learners. The assessment also revealed limited exposure to assistive technologies among some learners, alongside stigma and low community awareness that continue to affect educational access and participation. 3️⃣ The absence of a national standard for Uganda Sign Language remains a key challenge, raising concerns about consistent language use, recognition and protection across institutions and communities. 🤔 What needs to change? 🟢Integration of sign language into secondary and tertiary education, health-related, social work and Police programmes 🟢Equipping teachers with sign language skills and introducing basic signing in schools from an early age 🟢Strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for the standardisation and protection of Uganda Sign Language 🟢Sustained community sensitisation to address stigma and promote inclusion “There should be deliberate efforts to train teachers in sign language so that Deaf learners are meaningfully included in the classroom,” an education stakeholder in Kapchorwa suggested. 📌Way forward? The insights gathered will inform efforts to develop standardised Uganda Sign Language resources and more accessible digital solutions, helping reduce communication barriers and improve Deaf persons’ access to essential information and digital services. #UGSLStandardisation #DeafInnovations #DeafInclusion

Week 2 of #ICT4PWDs Digital Skills Training is underway in Northern and Western Uganda! @8TechConsults in partnership with @UCC_Official and @NUDIPU, continues to expand digital inclusion. This week, our teams are in Kapelebyong District in Northern Uganda and Ntoroko District in Western Uganda. Through hands-on learning and guided practice, participants are gaining the tools they need to navigate the digital world more independently and effectively. The training covers essential digital skills that can help Persons with Disabilities to access information, communicate with others, use and access e- services, explore learning opportunities and connect to potential employment and business opportunities. We extend our sincere gratitude to @UCC_Official and @NUDIPU for the continued partnership and support in advancing digital inclusion for Persons with Disabilities. #ICT4PWDs

Celebrating 2,413 digital skills graduates🎓 Over the past month, out-of-school adolescents across 14 districts and 14 Airtel- connected ATC centres have been building and strengthening the digital skills they need to navigate today’s digital world with confidence. Through the “Strengthening Digital Learning Ecosystems for In and Out-of-School Children and Adolescents in Uganda”programme, and under the Airtel Africa-@UNICEFUganda partnership, @8TechConsults has equipped out-of-school adolescents with practical digital skills, using the adaptable Digital Skills Training Toolkit as a key learning resource to guide training and hands-on practice. From computer basics and Microsoft Word and Excel to information processing, digital safety and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, learners have gained knowledge they can apply in their everyday lives to improve their livelihoods. As implementing partners, we are proud to say that today, these learners carry the confidence to utilize the skills gained to solve everyday challenges, explore opportunities and the potential to shape their futures in an increasingly digital world. As we celebrate this achievement, we're equally focused on what comes next. Graduates can continue developing their skills through the public libraries across the country for free and free online courses on elearning.8learning.org/enro… 🤝Special thanks to Airtel Africa Foundation and @UNICEFUganda for their partnership and commitment to expanding digital learning opportunities for out-of-school adolescents. 🎊To every learner who embraced the opportunity to learn, showed up and participated thank you for being part of this journey. Keep practicing, keep creating and put your newly attained skills to work! #DigitalLearningEcosystems

🎊Congratulations to our own Prof. Dr. @dpmirembe on your appointment as Minister of ICT in the Tooro Kingdom by His Majesty Omukama Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma! This prestigious appointment recognises your outstanding contributions to technology and digital innovation, as well as your commitment to leveraging technology to drive development and improve lives. 🙏We celebrate this well-deserved recognition and wish you success as you serve Obukama bwa Tooro.

“We appreciate Airtel and UNICEF so much. Ever since we got the internet and computers, teaching and learning have been transformed.” The Airtel-UNICEF partnership beneficiary schools shared what this partnership has meant to them, from equipping the computer labs with internet and computers, learning new skills to finding the confidence to explore opportunities in teaching and learning. #DigitalLearningEcosystems

Speaking at the regional advocacy event for digital education, Chief Guest Kato Louis, Assistant Resident District Commissioner, Isingiro district, urged parents to encourage and support their children and out-of-school adolescents to participate in digital skills training programmes to equip them with essential digital competencies and expand their learning and future opportunities. “This programme is highly recommended by the @GovUganda, and therefore I encourage parents to allow their children go for these digital skills trainings whenever the partners are in the community. I also thank @UNICEFUganda, Airtel Africa and @8TechConsults for aiding the government in promoting the digital agenda.” #DigitalLearningEcosytems

This week, @8TechConsults, in collaboration with @NUDIPU and with support from @UCC_Official commenced Phase 2 of the “Inclusivity of Persons with Disabilities through ICT Innovation, Adoption and Digital Literacy” project. This phase targets Persons with Disabilities across 8 districts in Western and Northern Uganda including Bunyangabo, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Kaberamaido, Kepelebyong, Amudat, Kween and Zombo, contributing to the broader goal of promoting digital inclusion and expanding access to digital opportunities to 1,500 Persons with Visual and Hearing Impairments. Through practical hands-on training, participants will acquire essential digital literacy and occupational skills and learn to use assistive technologies to navigate the digital world more confidently. #ICT4PWDS

To further enhance digital skills development and make learning more interactive, an adaptable Digital Skills Training Toolkit developed by @UNICEFUganda in consultation with the @Educ_SportsUg was handed over to St. Charles Lwanga College-Koboko, Yumbe Secondary School and Nyangilia Secondary School- Kobo; are some of the beneficiary schools that received internet connectivity from the Airtel Foundation through the Airtel Africa-UNICEF partnership. In addition, the top management of @8TechConsults led by our COO, @BSsekitto was pleased to donate a television to the host school, Nyangilia Secondary School support access to educational resources and enrich classroom learning. These additional resources will help teachers deliver engaging lessons while giving learners more opportunities to develop practical digital skills and explore new ways of learning. #DigitalLearningEcosystems

📍AIRTEL AFRICA-UNICEF WEST NILE REGIONAL ADVOCACY EVENT FOR DIGITAL EDUCATION Yesterday, under the Airtel Africa- @UNICEFUganda partnership, @8TechConsults convened multi stakeholders in the West Nile region for a regional advocacy event for digital education at Nyangilia Secondary School in Koboko district. The event brought together Government representatives including the RDC as the Chief Guest, Deputy RDC Koboko district, District ICT officer, Headteachers, ICT teachers, media and out-of-school adolescents who had just completed digital skills training at Koboko Public Library. Under the “Strengthening Digital Learning Ecosystems for In and Out-of-School Children and Adolescents in Uganda”programme, the event provided a platform to showcase and document the impact of the UNICEF–Airtel digital learning partnership at the district level, drawing on case studies, impact stories and stakeholder experiences. Furthermore, the event focused on accountability and sustainability, bringing stakeholders together to discuss how the gains made can be maintained and expanded to reach more out-of-school adolescents. #DigitalLearningEcosystems