The Internet Society Foundation is delighted to announce grant funding to 20 projects in six countries to promote digital inclusion through the Strengthening Communities, Improving Lives and Livelihoods (SCILLS) program. Established in 2020, the SCILLS program aims to support economic growth and educational opportunities by empowering individuals and communities to leverage the Internet for educational and economic progress.

The latest grants, totaling nearly USD $5 million, will enable a diverse range of projects aimed at transforming communities through digital inclusion. A selection of the planned SCILLS projects include digital literacy programs for women, youth, migrants, and people with disabilities; initiatives that support teaching and learning by integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the classroom; and projects that seek to advance labor and economic mobility by equipping entrepreneurs and workers with digital skills.

“The growth of the SCILLS program this year – reflected by a geographic expansion to now six countries – demonstrates the Internet Society Foundation’s increasing commitment to promoting equitable digital transformation through Internet skills development. We look forward to seeing the positive change our grantee partners will enable through these innovative projects that will promote economic inclusion and expand educational opportunities in Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, and Senegal.”

 

– Sarah Armstrong, Executive Director, Internet Society Foundation

“Our training and facilitation will support women entrepreneurs in Indonesia to use the Internet and digital tools to grow their businesses, increase economic independence, and create sustainable income sources for themselves and their families.”

 

–  Meena Palaniappan, CEO, Atma Connect

The selected projects for two years of funding include:

Bangladesh

• Access Bangladesh Foundation

   

  Project Title: Making digital skills accessible for youth with disabilities and promoting their economic inclusion.

• TechSoup (Sesame Workshop)

   

  Project Title: Promoting safe Internet practices and early childhood development content to improve children’s learning quality.

Brazil

• TechSoup (Associação Generation Brasil)

   

  Project Title: Leveraging the Internet to generate economic mobility through employment for vulnerable youth.

• EmpreendeAi 

   

  Project Title: No progress without access: Engaging entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities for technology.

• Associação Nova Escola

   

  Project Title: WebWise Educators: Empowering teachers to promote educational and safer Internet usage.

• TechSoup (Sesame Workshop)

   

  Project Title: Monstros em Rede: Developing basic and essential skills for children to learn and thrive safely in the digital age.

Colombia

• Simplon (Fundación Educamás) 

   

  Project Title: Colombia Social IT School: Data and AI for ensuring greater economic opportunity for underserved Colombian youth.

• TechSoup (Generation You Employed, Inc.)

   

  Project Title: Tech for All: Increasing economic mobility in Colombia through tech careers.

Ghana

• Simplon Foundation 

   

  Project Title: GHANADIGITOUR. Equipping young people with fundamental digital skills, in particular, the use of the Internet to improve their employability.

• TechSoup (Stichting EIFL.net)

   

  Project Title: Enhancing digital learning in public libraries to provide digital skills and online information literacy training to students.

• Yison Tech Hub

   

  Project Title: Strengthening digital skills for women entrepreneurs in Nadowli-Kaleo District.

Indonesia

• Atma Connect

   

  Project Title: Enabling the Internet to foster women helping women towards economic inclusion in Banten Province.

• TechSoup (Yayasan Kota Kita Surakarta)

   

  Project Title: Leveraging digital skills in women-led micro and small businesses.

Senegal

• Oxfam America

   

  Project Title: Digital incubation project for youth in support of women entrepreneurs.

• Paradigm Initiative

   

  Project Title: Lifeskills, ICT, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship (LIFE).

• Simplon Foundation 

   

  Project Title: SENDIGITOUR: Equipping young people with digital skills to improve their employability.

Through these grants, the Internet Society Foundation looks forward to supporting communities around the world in acquiring critical digital skills that hold the potential to improve education and economic outcomes.