Youths in Anambra Benefit from Transformative Digital Skills Bootcamp
This article was originally published by The Guardian Nigeria.
July 26th marked a significant milestone for young men in Anambra State, Nigeria, as they concluded the Yatara Rucha bootcamp, a four-week digital skills training program. Led by Excellence Anurika Joshua, a Master of Development Engineering candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, the initiative aimed to empower young men through digital education. Having previously worked primarily with women across Africa, Joshua found this new challenge both exciting and enlightening, adapting her experiences to address the unique needs of young men.
Joshua, a Projects for Peace awardee, received funding from Projects for Peace and support from International House at UC Berkeley to launch the program “Building Peace Through Digital Empowerment in Anambra State, Nigeria” (Yatara Rucha). The initiative focused on using digital skills to foster peace and reduce conflict in local communities. It targeted 150 young men aged 16 to 45, equipping them with skills that offer new economic opportunities and diminish the appeal of insurgent groups.
The training program combined prerecorded digital lessons available on the Techy Train Incubator Foundation’s learning management system with weekly calls on peacebuilding, led by personal development consultant Mr. Ola Omosebi. The bootcamp weekly calls began with the theme “The Business is You” on June 28, 2024, emphasizing personal values, communication, and networking. Participants learned how to articulate their unique value propositions and set effective goals.
Week two, held on July 5, 2024, focused on building peace and conflict resolution, teaching participants about the nature of conflict, its causes, and the role of communication in peacebuilding. The session introduced mediation and negotiation techniques and highlighted the importance of individual roles in fostering peace.
The third week, on July 12, 2024, delved into civic leadership. Participants explored the qualities of effective leaders, community service, volunteerism, public speaking, and problem-solving strategies. They learned decision-making skills essential for addressing community challenges.
In the final week on July 19, 2024, the focus shifted to civic responsibility. Participants gained insights into their civic duties and rights, the importance of law adherence, environmental stewardship, and promoting fairness and equality. A key discussion explored the differences between equity and equality.
Throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged with digital skills lessons and took quizzes to ensure a solid understanding of the material. The program concluded with a physical event at the Solutions Innovation Hub in Awka, where participants solidified their learning and connected with peers.
To make the program a success, Excellence Anurika Joshua collaborated with the Techy Train Incubator Foundation, Victor Okeke and Kenechukwu Nweke of Anambra Techies, and Chinwe Okoli of Solution Innovation District on behalf of the Anambra State Government. She expressed gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program for funding her graduate degree and highlighted the impact of her education at the Blum Center for Developing Economies, which equipped her with skills in problem-solving and beneficiary-centered design.
Living at International House, Berkeley, enhanced her ability to manage cultural diversity, which was crucial when facing challenges during the program. When participants struggled to attend calls due to data access issues, Joshua incentivized participation at the end of the program by reimbursing data costs, recognizing the hardships faced by the young men.
The Yatara Rucha bootcamp not only equipped participants with valuable digital skills but also inspired them to become agents of change in their communities, paving the way for a more peaceful and prosperous future.