Persons With Disabilities Begin Digital Skills Training in Juba

(JUBA) – A new digital skills training programme has officially started in Juba, welcoming 24 persons with disabilities to Koneta Hub for the first day of a course designed to promote inclusion and empower marginalised communities.

The initiative is supported by the r0g Agency for Open Culture and Critical Transformation through the Access to Skills and Knowledge Network (ASKnet), a programme that connects youth led innovation hubs in South Sudan and Uganda.

According to the organisers, the training aims to provide basic digital tools and create opportunities for participants to engage in creative work. Koneta Hub stated that the programme is not only about gaining skills but also about building confidence and improving visibility for persons with disabilities in the technology sector.

The first session was supported by two sign language interpreters, Mr Sebit and Jane, who provided accessibility support throughout the training. Koneta Hub described their participation as an essential part of ensuring that all trainees fully benefit from the programme.

Koneta Hub is a youth led organisation based in Juba that promotes technology and digital skills for development. The organisation aims to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals by encouraging innovation and supporting the growth of local talent.

The r0g Agency, headquartered in Berlin, works with grassroots organisations and governments in countries undergoing rapid change. It focuses on open knowledge, open technology and peacebuilding, and promotes the use of tools and information that are accessible to the public without financial or legal restrictions.

The ASKnet programme links several community based hubs in South Sudan and Uganda to share knowledge and build capacity. Organisers say the new training is part of wider efforts to build inclusive digital communities in South Sudan and to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunities in the digital space.