Refugee women take the lead in spearheading digital services
Refugee women take the lead in spearheading digital services
Every Thursady, Lydie Gakunzi, a Burundian refugee woman, is busy at Gikondo Community Centre assisting fellow refugees submitting applications online for the Economic mobility pathways project, a programme meant to help skilled refugees immigrate to Canada.
Lydie, a graduate in communication, has always been doing so over the past two months as a volunteer. She is keen to put her digital knowledge to good use in contributing to the well-being of her community.
“The use of digital tools is becoming indispensable nowadays,” she says. “It makes it easy to access information and facilitates communication wherever you are.”
Together with her peers, Lydie estimates that they have assisted hundreds of refugees submit their applications for the Canada’s Economic mobility pathways project. They have also helped over 100 young refugees to search information on scholarship opportunities and submit applications in universities based in Rwanda and abroad such as the US, Canada, South Africa and Ghana.
“I always feel proud to be part of digital solutions in my community,” she says. “IT tools enable us to bridge some gaps despite some cultural stereotypes that consider us as housewives.”
On the other side of Rwanda, Ruth Mahoro, 24, a Congolese refugee in Kiziba camp, is also doing a similar work.
Since last February, Ruth and three of her friends started working with local authorities to assist people seeking online-based civil services such as birth and marriage certificates through Irembo platform. They assist between 20 and 50 persons a day.
“The world is changing so fast, and all services are going digital. Without tech skills, you lag behind,” she points out.
Ruth and Lydie are part of 32 refugee youth who were trained by UNHCR, together with Prison Fellowship Rwanda, in October last year as digital career counselors. They are now working in all refugee settings across Rwanda to address the issue of lack of access to computers and internet, as well as a lack of knowledge on the opportunities available, when finding and applying for jobs and scholarships.
Since taking part in the training, Ruth and teammates have since trained over 70 refugees on basic computer skills ranging from using Microsoft word to excel, writing cover letter, CV and how to write compelling applications for jobs or scholarships.
Some of the refugees trained by Ruth have subsequently made successful applications to opportunities at Kepler University and jobs nearby the camp.
“I always feel excited when I meet with my former trainees who made successful applications,” Ruth says.
Having completed high school in computer software development in 2021, Ruth believes the future lies in hands of tech-savvy people, and that women especially should not be left behind.
She is now planning to expand her services and include helping people to declare taxes online and digital banking services so that she can earn some money.
“I have always been passionate about technology because we are living in a digital world,” Ruth says. “I believe that women and girls have the potential to do even better once they are empowered with new technology skills.”