More than 500 youth from Teso North are set to benefit from a fully sponsored International Digital Skills Course (IDSC) aimed at equipping them with practical digital competencies and preparing them for opportunities in the growing digital economy.
The programme, sponsored by the Teso North National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), will train participants in cohorts of about 100 learners, with each training cycle lasting approximately two months.
The first cohort of 82 learners has successfully completed the course and graduated with the International Digital Literacy Certification (IDLC).
The training is conducted by Digital Acumen Labs in partnership with Ajira Digital through the Jitume Digital Lab at Chemasiri Technical and Vocational College (TVC), which is equipped with more than 100 computers.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the International Digital Skills Course at Chemasiri Technical and Vocational College (TVC), Teso North Member of Parliament Oku Kaunya said he would continue investing in digital literacy initiatives to ensure more young people acquire practical competencies required in today’s labour market.
“Digital literacy is an essential requirement in today’s world. The knowledge you have acquired will open many opportunities,” he said.
Kaunya said the initiative forms part of the constituency’s broader strategy to empower young people with market-driven competencies that will enable them to secure jobs, establish businesses and contribute to Kenya’s digital transformation.
Digital Acumen Labs representative Calvin Opicho said the curriculum was developed after identifying a significant gap between social media use and actual digital competence among many young people.
“Many young people assume they are digitally literate simply because they use social media platforms. This course goes beyond that by equipping them with practical competencies that can be applied in the workplace and converted into income through online opportunities,” he said.
Opicho said the initiative is helping bridge the digital divide by exposing youth from rural communities to practical digital competencies that prepare them for the rapidly evolving world of work.
The Coordinator of the International Digital Skills Course, Isaac Masake, called on government agencies, political leaders, development partners, and the private sector to invest more in digital infrastructure and advanced training programmes to prepare young people for technology-driven opportunities.
“We now need to move beyond basic digital literacy by investing in computers, digital laboratories, and reliable internet connectivity. Young people already spend a significant amount of time online, and we should help them transform that engagement into productive employment and sustainable sources of income,” he said.
The Principal of Chemasiri Technical and Vocational College, Lawrence Ongachi, expressed confidence that the graduates would apply the competencies acquired to improve their livelihoods, noting that digital technology continues to create new opportunities for skilled young people across the world.
Ongachi encouraged more youth to enroll in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, saying the government continues to expand access through scholarships, loans, and bursaries.
He said the partnership between the college, Digital Acumen Labs, Ajira Digital and the Teso North NG-CDF has transformed Chemasiri TVC into a digital learning hub, enabling young people from Teso North and neighboring areas to access quality digital training closer to home.
By Moses Wekesa
