Why I4Opportunities (Internet For Opportunities)?

According to Rwanda’s National Digital Talent Policy (2016), the country has a strong ambition to become an ICT hub in the region, with the ultimate goal of transforming itself from being an importer to an exporter of ICT-skilled manpower. This vision requires the production of a surplus of ICT professionals with market-oriented, specialized skills.

However, the reality, particularly in rural areas, differs significantly from this intended situation. While Kigali is increasingly becoming a tech hub with numerous young startups and coworking spaces, many Rwandan youths in the villages lack basic computer skills; some do not even know how to turn on a computer or do not own one. There remains a low level of ICT literacy in Rwanda especially in rural areas.

Increasing digital literacy will help boost demand for various electronic services and content, improve economic productivity by enhancing workforce efficiency, increase organizational productivity, provide opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship, attract foreign direct investment through a digitally literate and skilled population, facilitate youth employability, and reduce social exclusion by providing opportunities to previously overlooked segments of society.

Although output figures indicate a quantity of skills available, especially at the certificate, diploma, and bachelor’s levels, the issue of quality has been a recurring concern. There is a noticeable mismatch between the supply and demand of ICT skills. Most graduates currently lack the technical, market-oriented expertise required by employers in both the government and private sectors.

Rwanda has been recognized as the most connected country in Africa. By early 2019, 95% of Rwandans were covered by 4G/LTE. However, a world-class ICT infrastructure will only yield the desired results if there is mass adoption of content and services developed in fields such as e-Government, e-Business, e-Agriculture, and e-Health.

RwandOpp believes in sharing knowledge and empowering young people from rural areas to develop outstanding skills that will help them solve various local problems and foster self-development by leveraging the opportunities available through internet use and soft skills.

How i4opportunities (Internet For Opportunities) work?

The I4Opportunities program focuses on providing practical ICT training to high school students and recent graduates, along with offering peer mentor training. The goal is to equip these individuals with basic computer skills and improve their ICT literacy. By enhancing digital literacy, the program aims to boost employability for youth in the schools and communities where RwandOpp is collaborating.

Our beneficiaries in our I4Opportunities workshop at G.S. Mukamira.

The I4Opportunities program focuses on the following key areas:

• Providing digital skills through a variety of workshops.
• Connecting youth with organizations offering opportunities such as jobs, scholarships, internships, and additional workshops to help them become better leaders and innovators.
• Supporting I4Opportunities graduates with mentorship as they start and successfully implement new initiatives.

The program features a series of workshops that are conducted weekly by software engineers from the RwandOpp team in Nyabihu District, Western Province, Rwanda.