The Internet Society Foundation is delighted to announce grant funding to 13 projects in six countries to promote educational and economic opportunities through more knowledgeable and skillful Internet use. In its fifth year of operation, the Strengthening Communities, Improving Lives and Livelihoods (SCILLS) program continues to support organizations with strong relationships with the communities they serve in Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, and Senegal.
The latest grants, totalling nearly USD $3 million, will enable a diverse range of projects aimed at transforming communities. A selection of the planned SCILLS projects include digital literacy programs for women, underprivileged youth, kids, and girls; initiatives that support teaching and learning by integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the classroom; and projects that seek to advance labor and economic mobility by equipping entrepreneurs and workers with digital skills.
“Our SCILLS program continues to demonstrate the Internet’s transformative power in fostering access to better-paying jobs, supporting entrepreneurs, and improving educational outcomes. By expanding into three new countries and fostering collaboration through regional gatherings, we have seen how grantees are driving meaningful change in their communities. Through adaptive digital literacy training, safe Internet practices, and partnerships with the business community, our projects are equipping individuals with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy,” said the Senior Program Officer, Jenn Beard.
In 2023, the program helped to assist 9,250 students with digital content/skills and provided Internet training to 6,612 youth for economic opportunities.
The selected projects for two years of funding include:
Bangladesh
TechSoup with the support of Light House
Project Title: Sustainable ICT-Based Agriculture Practices for Farmers and Reduction of GBV for Women Farmers
Songjogfoundation
Project Title: Hands-on Skill Development program for Internet based applications to empower underprivileged youth
Brazil
TechSoup with the support of Instituto Lojas Renner
Project Title: Connected Girls: Digital Skills for Productive Inclusion
Colombia
Asociación Colnodo with the support of Change Maker for Kids
Project Title: Innovaduras
Asociación Colnodo with the support of Fundación PLAN
Project Title: Internet Plus: Plus entrepreneurship, women and digital tools
TechSoup with the support of Teach for Colombia
Project Title: Leveraging the Internet to Strengthen Students’ Ecosystems in Urabá and the Teach for Colombia Lidera Program (LISSE 2.0)
Ghana
Dreamoval Foundation
Project Title: WEITech: Women Educators in Internet and Technology
University of Ghana
Project Title: Leveraging Internet Access for Teacher Professional Development and Improved Students Learning Outcomes in Ghana
Tech4Dev
Project Title: Women Techsters
TechSoup with the support Blossom Academy
Project Title: Building Data Professionals For Internet Opportunities
Indonesia
Combine Resource Institute
Project Title: Improvement of School Internet Network Infrastructure and Internet Safety Training for Teachers, Parents, and Students in Elementary Schools in Disaster Prone-Areas on the South Coast of Java, Indonesia
Senegal
Association des femmes dans le secteur des TIC (FESTIC)
Project Title: FESTIC BOOST NUMERIQUE PROGRAM
Simplon Foundation with the support of Teach For Senegal
Project Title: Digital Empowerment Initiative
With these grants, the Internet Society Foundation is excited to help communities worldwide develop essential digital skills to drive educational advancement and strengthen economic opportunities.