Supporting businesswomen and girls from rural schools.
In rural areas, achieving digital literacy remains a challenge due to socio-economic barriers such as low literacy rates, poverty, lack of infrastructure, and social inequalities. This is where our Digitruck Salone is on the road to bring positive change. Digitruck Salone is the name for our Digitruck in Sierra Leone, which was installed through our partnership with the local organization Media Matters for Women. This Digitruck brings digital skills and opportunities to remote communities and focuses on two key groups with limited access to digital learning: girls from rural schools and businesswomen in remote communities. By equipping them with digital skills and internet access, the initiative not only enhances their digital capabilities but also opens new possibilities for their futures.
From Monday to Friday, Digitruck Salone hosts digital literacy classes from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM for schools, followed by sessions from 3:30 to 5:00 PM tailored for rural businesswomen. In the evenings and on Saturday mornings, the Digitruck remains open for trainees to practice their skills and for the wider community to access the internet.
Powered by green energy, Digitruck Salone is entirely self-sufficient, operating on a solar and battery system. With a 4G router and satellite connectivity, it can bring digital access anywhere. Inside, the truck is equipped with 14 workstations designed for an optimal e-learning experience. The rear 12 feet of the container serve as an internet lounge, providing a casual space for learning, collaboration, and community engagement.
Enhancing digital literacy in rotations
The Digitruck operates in three-month rotations, staying in one district before moving to the next. Its journey begins in the Western Rural Area, followed by Bombali District and Kenema District, supporting schools and rural businesswomen in each location. Alongside digital learning modules, the program integrates sessions on sexual and reproductive health, rights awareness, and prevention of gender-based violence—critical topics in rural communities. Using youth-friendly programming and interactive apps on tablets, the initiative helps build essential knowledge on these issues.
Find out more about our implementing partner Media Matters for Women over here: Home - Media Matters for Women