About 600 youths in Kwale County are expected to undergo digital literacy training to improve their understanding of online safety, tackle cyberbullying and strengthen young women’s participation in leadership.
The two-year initiative, spearheaded by Peace Tree Network (PTN), focuses on equipping young women with knowledge and practical skills to navigate digital platforms, protect themselves from online abuse and use technology to advance their leadership ambitions.
The programme seeks to address the growing challenges of cyberbullying and online harassment, which can discourage women from expressing their opinions, engaging in public affairs and seeking leadership positions.
Young women trained to strengthen digital presence
PTN Communications Officer Elizabeth Auma said the training was designed to educate aspiring young women leaders on how to establish a strong digital presence and use social media platforms effectively.
“We came up with this project to help young women who are into leadership understand how to boost their presence on social media platforms, especially in this digital space,” she said.
Auma said participants would also be taught how to recognise different forms of online abuse, respond appropriately to harassment and use digital platforms’ reporting systems to seek assistance.
She said the knowledge would help young women participate more confidently in public discussions while protecting themselves from online intimidation.
ICT trainer warns youths against online threats
Lead ICT Trainer at Dahlia Training Institute Ibrahim Rasso said the programme was also focused on imparting essential cybersecurity knowledge to help participants secure their digital accounts and personal information.
Rasso said the youths would learn how to identify online threats, including phishing, hacking and malware, while adopting safer internet practices such as creating strong passwords and avoiding suspicious links.
He urged participants to exercise responsibility when sharing information online, encouraging them to verify facts before publishing content and engage respectfully with others, even when their opinions differed.
Rasso further cautioned the youths against careless online posting, noting that digital content could have lasting consequences even after it had been deleted.
Beneficiaries hail digital skills and economic opportunities
Beneficiary Mwanasha Soza said the training had broadened her knowledge of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), and how the tools could be applied in daily activities.
Soza said the lessons had also helped her understand how digital skills could open up economic opportunities, including using technology to develop income-generating activities.
She added that the programme had educated her on the risks associated with technology misuse and the importance of protecting herself against cyberbullying and other forms of online harassment.
Soza said the knowledge gained would enable young women to communicate their ideas more confidently, promote their talents and explore digital opportunities that could improve their financial independence.
Another beneficiary, Jewel Kalo, said the training had deepened her understanding of the risks young people face online, particularly cyberbullying and digital harassment.
Kalo said she had acquired practical skills to deal with online attacks and safeguard herself against digital threats, adding that she intended to pass on the knowledge to other young people.
She said educating youths on digital literacy was critical to creating safer online environments where they could exchange ideas, express their views and take part in public discourse without fear of intimidation.
Kalo added that such knowledge would enable more young women to take advantage of digital platforms not only for communication but also for personal development, economic empowerment and participation in leadership.
Young people participate in a digital literacy training session in Kwale County. Peace Tree Network is targeting about 600 youths through a two-year programme aimed at combating cyberbullying, improving online safety and empowering young women to participate in leadership and economic activities.
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