5 Ways ChildFund Advances Digitalization and Youth Empowerment

Secondary school students attend an online safety awareness and response class through ChildFund's Safe CLICS project in Kenya.

In today’s highly interconnected world, young people are eager adopters of the digital tools proliferating throughout the global landscape. But children and youth growing up in under-resourced countries face limited access to these tools, which they could meaningfully leverage to build the future they dream of.

Recognizing digitalization as a key driver to young people’s ability to succeed in their lives, ChildFund is engaging youth in digital spaces and tools to promote their empowerment, employability, entrepreneurship, protection from online exploitation and more. Here are five key initiatives.

1. Helping Young Women in Ethiopia Empower Themselves Through Digital Savings

In Ethiopia, the Jamii.one application has emerged as a transformative digital savings and credit platform, accessible directly from individual smartphones. This initiative mainly benefits young women organized into Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) supported by ChildFund and its local partner organizations. Designed to be user-friendly, even for users who are illiterate, the app sends text messages with updates on savings and credit amounts, fostering trust and transparency among VSLA members. It also facilitates connections with microfinance institutions, enabling access to loans without collateral. By offering a way for women to increase their savings and reduce dependency on external support, the initiative is helping women empower themselves for financial independence. The initiative has support from microfinance institutions and banks.

2. Amplifying Youth Voices in Ecuador Through Online Radio

In Ecuador, youth are leading online radio programs through an innovative initiative spearheaded by two of ChildFund's implementing partner organizations as part of ChildFund’s PACT program model, which promotes youth leadership. To create the episodes, adolescents organize and stream interviews addressing critical issues like sexual and reproductive rights, mental health, violence and future aspirations. The young people structure these programs like traditional radio shows, including script preparation, interviewee selection and logistical coordination. In the last year alone, the shows have achieved an estimated reach of 7,000 monthly impressions through Facebook, and the initiative has expanded to include other youth groups.

3. Bridging the Digital Divide for Mexican Youth

In Mexico, the digital divide poses significant challenges for youth, particularly for young women in rural and indigenous areas, limiting their access to education and employment opportunities. To address this, ChildFund, in collaboration with UNICEF, launched the Be Digital Safely program to help adolescents and young people aged 12 to 20 in Chiapas and Oaxaca to build critical digital, security and online citizenship skills to enhance their employability. In the last year, 1,248 participants completed the program’s Technological Skills at Work module, with 86.8% reporting improved abilities in managing and developing digital content. One youth leadership and entrepreneurship project in Oaxaca provided seed capital to 74 participants, who gained valuable knowledge in digital marketing and online sales strategies. These interventions significantly contribute to the participants' academic, professional and social development.

4. Enhancing Adolescent Health Education in India With the Chulbuli App

In India’s Telangana state, ChildFund has taken a significant step toward advancing adolescent reproductive and sexual health by developing the Chulbuli app. This innovative digital platform is designed for adolescents, peer educators, facilitators, schoolteachers and parents, in alignment with government school health and reproductive sexual health programs. The app features eight comprehensive modules covering various aspects of sexual and reproductive health, making crucial information easily accessible.

The Chulbuli app was launched at a state-level event in March 2024, with participation from over 50 stakeholders, including government representatives, local NGOs and the health department. Once launched, the app quickly garnered significant attention, with over 4,886 views and 314 new users as of May 2024. Users have shown strong engagement, with 981 sessions and an average of 3.12 engaged sessions per user. ChildFund has conducted thorough training sessions for peer educators, teachers and facilitators to ensure effective implementation.

5. Protecting Youth From Online Exploitation Globally

With the ongoing expansion of internet access, many young people have experienced the numerous benefits of digital tools and spaces, including increased access to educational, recreational and social opportunities.  However, alongside these many benefits are potential risks like online sexual exploitation and abuse of children (OSEAC), cyberbullying and other forms of online abuse.  In response, ChildFund has developed strategic partnerships with leaders on this issue and integrated children’s online safety into our programmatic and advocacy efforts, including the development of OSEAC prevention programming in Kenya, Mexico, Indonesia, and Bolivia; the launch of impactful public awareness and advocacy campaigns in the U.S., the Philippines, Brazil, and Ecuador; and successful advocacy for stronger online safety legislation in the U.S., Guatemala, the Philippines and Kenya, as well as for the African Union to enshrine OSEAC as an important part of its strategy to protect children.  Throughout these efforts, we have emphasized the importance of peer-to-peer education and have centered children's and youth’s’ voices to ensure that these solutions respond to their day-to-day realities.

Moving Forward and Promoting Digital Inclusion

Through these key investments to ensure the next generation’s access to digital tools and their protection in the online world, ChildFund is working with  young people and local entities  to  build an enabling environment that develops and supports their assets, agency, access to services and opportunities so that they can thrive both offline and online. These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to addressing the unique challenges youth face today, from achieving financial independence and enhancing their leadership capacities to developing critical digital skills and ensuring their safety and well-being in online spaces.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, young people must be at the center of this transformation. By building their access to the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need, ChildFund is helping to ensure that they are not just participants but leaders in shaping their futures to achieve their aspirations in education and employment. It is projected that there will be 230 million digital jobs in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, so it is important to continue investing in relevant technical and life skills for young people, and especially for girls and young women, who are particularly disadvantaged: Research suggests that 9 out of 10 adolescent girls and young women are offline in low-income countries worldwide. 

This work is about more than just technology — it is about equity, empowerment, and resourcing youth to build the lives and communities they envision. And it’s essential to continue bridging the digital divide and supporting diverse young people in realizing their full potential, both online and offline.

The author gratefully acknowledges contributions from Mark Anthony Dasco, Danielle Lilly, Nestor Silverio, Morgane Bellion, Admassu Wondafrash, Lilly Omondi and Manjunatha HT.