Safer-I
Safer-I Nepal is a feminist-led campaign devoted to crafting a safer, inclusive, ethical and accessible digital space for everyone. The campaign noticed an overwhelming trend of adult women relying on their spouses or their children to practice simple internet activities like using social media or even performing simple mobile transactions. Not only does this increase the dependence on their family, but also increases individual privacy concerns. In response, Safer-I launched its Tech for Moms program - a multi-day digital literacy workshop designed for adult women and mothers who require the use or can benefit from the use of technology and digital devices.
With the Giving Joy grant, Safer-I engaged 53 mothers in a series of workshops to educate women on fundamental internet safety measures and password security, as well as to acquaint them with the functionalities of popular online platforms such as eSewa, Daraz, and Facebook, including the creation and management of Facebook pages and basic concepts of digital marketing. Additionally, the workshops empowered mothers by providing instruction on the practical use of everyday applications and teaching them how to effectively market and advertise their products online, while also emphasizing the importance of creating safe and secure digital environments. Furthermore, the initiative raised awareness about various social media platforms and provides guidance on utilizing easy-to-use basic applications for enhanced digital literacy. The grant produced 53 digitally literate mothers and approximately 90 families in their society.
“Witnessing the transformation of the participating moms was truly heartwarming,” stated Nirisha Manandhar, Founder and Campaign Lead of SAFER-I. She noted that “sharing our seemingly basic knowledge, opened a whole new world for them. Seeing the spark of understanding and excitement as they learned new skills brought immense joy to our team.” She added: “This initiative significantly boosted our organization's recognition. We received requests for similar workshops, highlighting the demand for these digital literacy programs. At the end of the session we were approached to give the training for other women's organizations. This highlights a significant demand for digital literacy programs within the community, and positions our organization for future collaborations.”
Nirisha also mentioned that the grant funded activities provided a valuable learning experience for SAFER-I. They discovered the importance of pre-analyzing the target audience to understand their specific needs and desired learning outcomes. This could be achieved by conducting surveys 2-3 days prior to the event to gauge their existing internet literacy and pinpoint areas of greatest interest. By implementing these adjustments, They can ensure future programs are even more effective in empowering participants.
