Serving With Love (SWL) Foundation, a non-profit organisation, has set its sights on bridging the digital gap among children between the ages of four and 16 through the Digital Life After School Programme (DLASP) centre in Shomolu community, Lagos State.
The digital centre is designed to transform the lives of children from low-income families by providing free digital and technology education as part of the foundation’s vision to serve the socially and economically disadvantaged children in communities.
According to the foundation, beneficiaries will undergo a one-week assessment process, before a rigorous three months of training by well-trained teachers.
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The children will be grouped into stages depending on their IT proficiency level and will graduate to the next class as they become more competent. The extensive curriculum includes basic IT, Microsoft Office tools, basic to advanced programming and basic to advanced coding, as well as gaming courses.
The DLASP curriculum, implemented by Digital Fortress, encompasses basic IT, Microsoft Office tools, programming, coding, gaming, and robotics. The programme offered free of charge to selected children, employs a rigorous selection process to identify those with a strong desire and high potential to learn and assimilate the teachings.
Molade Adeniyi, chairman of the executive council of SWL, told newsmen that the launch of the centre stressed the importance of raising awareness around the existing digital divide and enlisting support from government bodies and individuals.
Adeniyi said through DLASP, the foundation is transforming individual lives and working towards a future where the digital divide is a thing of the past, adding that it is a task all stakeholders must invest in to secure the future.
Foluso Gbadamosi, founder/trustee at SWL and executive director of Junior Achievement, said the DLASP programme is a beacon of hope for these children.
According to her, it not only addresses the digital literacy gap but also equips beneficiaries with the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century.
Adedokun Oduyemi, founder and CEO, of Digital Fortress, said that by integrating foundational ICT modules, the aim is to cultivate a multidimensional learning experience.
Oduyemi said this approach ensures young minds not only grasp technological concepts but also imbibe practical skills relevant to the evolving digital landscape.
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“Our goal is to empower them not just with knowledge but with the ability to apply this learning effectively and even build on them,” he said.
On her part, Tomi Otudeko, founder/trustee of SWL & head of corporate services at Honeywell Group, said that since its inception 10 years ago, DLASP has impacted over 300 children, fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of quality education.
She said the foundation has also cared for over 2,000 individuals through various feeding initiatives, contributing to the SDG on zero hunger, and supported over 300 women and children through health and well-being initiatives under the SDG for good health and well-being.
