EmpowerHer Journey
The digital revolution is creating huge opportunities around the world. The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is growing rapidly and is profoundly transforming all areas of life. In Mali, digital technology is starting to gain momentum, particularly in the capital city of Bamako. The Walen association in partnership with the JOFA – ACTE Project offered to 20 young girls the opportunity to strengthen their digital skills and access new professional and entrepreneurial perspectives in order to fight against child labour, especially in its worst forms.
Training that initiates changes
As part of JOFA's action plan, this bootcamp aimed to support major initiatives on child protection and the fight against the worst forms of child labour through digital technology. It offered the participants a unique opportunity to discover the digital world, a sector still little explored by women in Mali as Salimata SOUGANE testifies in her words :
Before participating in the EmpowerHer bootcamp; I had some notions about digital technology. But this training allowed me to strengthen my skills significantly. I have also developed my expertise in the creation of no-code websites, especially with WordPress, as well as graphic design with Canva. This gave me a more strategic vision of the field.
Digital technology, a tool to combat child labour
Young girls have acquired essential digital skills, enabling them to grow professionally and become leaders and agents of change in their communities, promoting the well-being of children. Take Salimata, for example:
'After this training, I was able to carry out several projects, including creating a website for a training firm. I plan to launch an e-commerce site and offer wedding card design services,' said Salimata as she commit to developing her projects further and exploring opportunities to contribute to the fight against child labour through digital technology.
Salimata added : "I intend to participate in digital awareness campaigns, informing and mobilising the public on this issue and using digital technology to reach a wide audience and encourage commitment to children's rights ".
A space for advocacy and continuous awareness
To sustain the gains made and continue to raise awareness, Walen association, a partner of World Vision through the JOFA ACTE project, has created a blog dedicated to the bootcamp. This blog is designed to promote and follow the journey of the 20 young girls and contains inspiring blog articles, addressing different themes related to Worst Forms of Child Labour.
You can access the blog here : https://empowherjourney.wordpress.com/