The arrival of digital technology in Africa has become a real asset for Africans. These tools are revolutionizing the world, enabling African youth to exercise control and civic engagement through digital communication. But when I returned to Guinea-Bissau after completing my studies, I saw that young people, especially on the outskirts of the capital, were behind schedule compared to the rest of the world. As a computer engineer,
I launched the DIGITAL LITERACY project to provide basic computing
training for young people in Djaal, an area near the capital Bissau, as young people make up 60% of the area’s population. Youth who have never touched a computer will be able to access the internet to interact with global communities, gain access to educational content, and take charge of their own lives. When we presented the project to these young people, their commitment was immediate. The first day they turned on the computer, their faces lit up as they sat in front of a tool they had barely had the opportunity to touch before.
The digital revolution has been slow in this country. This is partly due to the delay in electrification, which our government still struggles with. While promoting digital inclusion on a grassroots level, we must first solve this energy problem. And just like the digital divide and energy issues, we’ve also learned this country has problems with water access, a necessity for our lifestyles.
Just after I returned home in 2015, I joined a project that traveled across the country. On the tour, I visited Cuntima, a rural town far from Bissau. Although a few wells were installed by a UN project, the sanitation was abysmal, and the people living there drank unpurified well water. Seeing this reality, and having lived in Senegal where access to water is relatively well developed, I strongly felt the need to ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water. The plan was to mobilize others to donate fountains in distant areas devoid of clean water. Today, UNICEF has set up drinking fountains in many locations. I also believe the government must commit to establishing a major dam project to ensure access to clean water.
If everyone can access necessities like technological knowledge and drinking water, we will have a healthier, more vibrant world filled with the joy of life. That is the world I am dreaming of.