Orange Group to train women in Africa

A press release from Orange Botswana says the women's digital centres are designed to deliver literacy and micro-entrepreneurial skills training modules to women in disadvantaged situations

It says the digital women's centre programme targets women within the African content. This, it says, is an international call for projects by the Orange Group and is open to countries where Orange is present.

The initiative is administered through the Orange Foundation which will provide funding to equip the digital centres with technical equipment such as computers, laptops, projectors, tablets, printers and USBs all to be used to empower and train women towards economic independence, says the release.

It also states that digital centres are aimed at fostering women empowerment through the delivery of literacy and basic entrepreneurial training to women in disadvantaged situations who normally have limited access to educational opportunities.

Supported by digital tools, it says training also aims to promote women's digital inclusion by making them familiar with digital devices and basic software.

So far, 20 women's digital centres have been opened in four African countries including Madagascar, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Tunisia.

It says local NGOs and organisations that work towards women's social and professional integration are encouraged to make submissions in order to benefit from the programme.

Furthermore, the release says the competition which was launched in line with the Orange Group's efforts to support digitisation and women empowerment has been running since February and will close on March 15.

According to Orange Foundation and public relations manager, Boga Chilinde-Masebu, this international call for projects is just another way that the company continues to support women and encourage their self-sufficiency and economic independence.

"Women empowerment is one of the main pillars of the Orange Foundation. This is why over the years we have embarked on various initiatives aimed at nurturing women led businesses. The digital centres are just an additional way to improve and increase efficiency and productivity levels of these projects such that the returns on investment are higher," says Chilinde-Masebu.

Eligible projects will be implemented in both rural and urban communities. Online applications can be made on http://orafo-ap.awakit-hosting.com/auth/login.