Today, I want to share a heartfelt journey with you, one that begins in a dry, arid corner of Kenya, Turkana, and leads to the bustling city of Nairobi and eventually, the coastal town of Malindi.
I’d like to introduce myself, a software developer from a remote village in Northeastern Kenya. In my early years, I had minimal exposure to smartphones or the internet, as it still is for many kids in rural areas despite today’s digital connected world. My first encounter with these mysterious devices was when aid workers and well-intentioned individuals visited my village, bringing essentials like food and clothing.
One fateful day, as a curious six year old, I approached a visitor holding a device that seemed to perform miracles of opening and closing with buttons and a small TV-like screen trying to understand what it was. Little did I know that this encounter would plant a seed that would grow into a lifelong promise to myself: one day, I would master these devices and understand the magic within.
The Pursuit of Knowledge
Fast forward a few years, I had made my way to Nairobi through hard work, determination and some luck of course. I took a course in software development, fulfilling the promise I made to myself as a child. I have since become an accomplished software developer, navigating the world of technology. It’s a story of personal triumph, but there’s more to it.
A Surprising Encounter
This year, I got a unique opportunity to work as a tech support and a web developer in a community space called Maono Space in Malindi, a coastal town with its own set of disparities. Malindi epitomizes the contrast between the haves and the have-nots. It’s a place where Italians and a privileged few reside, living comfortably. Yet, within the same town, there are individuals who go to bed hungry, struggling to make ends meet.
Last week I had a chance to interact with kids from both worlds, and I began by teaching children from an international school who are having a summer camp at the space. I was teaching them about technology and social media. To my surprise, these children, despite their young age, were already well-versed in the digital world. They confidently navigated social media and had high end smartphones. Their knowledge was inspiring, challenging even my expertise as a software developer.
The real awakening came the next day when I had a similar program with young Muslim girls from the local community, who attend public schools and had little to no interaction with smartphones or computers. Only two out of fifteen had ever used these devices. Even how the session went was different. They did not have the confidence to ask questions even though they knew nothing about computers.
How can we justify such disparities between children living in such close proximity to each other? Why do some kids have access to the digital world from a young age, while others remain digital outsiders? How can children like these young girls, who lack digital exposure, ever compete with their more privileged peers?
In today’s world, digital literacy is the key to unlocking opportunities. Everything from education to job applications, government services, and healthcare increasingly relies on the digital realm. The gap between those who are digitally literate and those who are not is a powerful determining factor in the course of one’s life.
So, what can we do to ensure that children in rural areas are digitally literate? How can we level the playing field and give all children a fair chance to thrive in this digital age? The responsibility falls on all of us to bridge this divide.
In the end, it’s about ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital age. Children in rural areas, with the right support and opportunities, can become just as digitally literate as their peers from more privileged backgrounds. It’s not just about teaching them to use technology; it’s about opening doors to a world of possibilities, just as my encounter with a smartphone opened up a world of opportunities for me.
Let’s work together to bridge the digital divide, and pave the way for a future where every child, regardless of their background, can thrive in the digital age