Kampala, UGANDA – Our world today is undeniably digital. Digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in our history – reaching around 50% of the developing world’s population in only two decades and transforming societies. A core principle of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is to ensure no one is left behind. That is why…
Under the Localizing SDGs program – a two and a half year project implemented by Open Space Center (OSC) in partnership with Crossing Borders and with support from CISU intended at localizing the UN Global Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level through mobilizing and engaging young people through a number of youth-friendly interventions and policy advocacy – Open Space Center held a four-day digital skills training with student leaders, teachers, youth local government leaders & CTF members, youth CSO Leaders and youth from the informal sector from Kampala, Wakiso & Mukono, including partner countries of Ghana, Zambia, and Denmark in attendance.
Open Space Center as a participating partner organization from Uganda conducted a physical training that took place at Eureka Place Hotel, Ntinda, covering the use of digital tools ie. social media, cyber security, misinformation, disinformation and fake news, use of emails and Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. The training also included the crucial aspects of using online platforms including digital security, trustworthiness, and risk management based on assumptions and mitigations.
The organization was also represented in the online common session of the Digital Skills Training which featured discussions and overviews from partner organizations like Crossing Borders Denmark, Circus Zambia, and Ghana Community Radio Network.
This training was held to equip at least 50 youth leaders with digital skills around usage of basic social media platforms/tools, cyber security and combating disinformation and misinformation, thereby building their capacity and easing their advocacy role to promote the overall UN Agenda 2030.
The two-and-a-half-year Localizing SDGs Project is aimed at taking and breaking down SDGs at local levels for easy understanding and easy implementation to arrive at Agenda 2030. In this training, participants were identified to ensure that most, if not all, youth sectors are represented.
As a civil society organization, we call upon all parties to get involved in attaining each of the sustainable development goals by 2030.
Context
Young people have slowly adapted to the use of various digital tools and social media altogether, just as it is assumed that media is the fourth arm of the state, we believe the internet holds such power as well. Today, almost all information is found on the internet based on how the message is put out or searched for. Information with good intentions could lead to development and change in societies henceforth the adaptation of this for the promotion and advocacy of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. Read more about SDGs here https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
Follow our works on SDGs below:
link Localizing SDGs
link Global SDGs Awareness