Facebook has launched a program under which it plans to equip the youth and general public across Sub-Saharan Africa with digital skills needed to navigate the digital world, the company said Monday.

My Digital World is a consolidation of all Facebook’s digital literacy programs including Safe Online with Facebook, Ilizwe Lam, and eZibo and will be offered virtually this year to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.

“We remain committed to equipping young people and the general public across Sub-Saharan Africa with the vital digital skills needed to navigate the digital world, especially during these challenging times of COVID-19,” Facebook’s Policy Programs Manager for Economic Impact and Digital Literacy, Phil Oduor said in a press statement.

Over the years, Facebook has trained thousands of people on digital literacy skills. According to the U.S. tech giant, it is preparing to train close to 20,000 participants across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, and Ethiopia on “safe, responsible, and beneficial usage of the digital platforms” this year.

This comes as the ongoing pandemic disrupts economies, speeding up digital transformation, and sparking debate about a ‘new normal’ in every aspect of life and work in the post-COVID era. “Never has it been more important to invest in, and train communities and the next generation of leaders to better understand and utilize the power of digital tools to take full advantage of what the internet has to offer,” Oduor adds.

The new training is free and open to youths aged 13 and above, and will also focus on teachers, parents, and guardians, Facebook said. The sessions commenced on Monday, June 15, 2020, with the program including:

• Up to 90 minutes Instructor-led live webinars featuring presentations tools, demos, and virtual discussions
• Digital marketing campaigns highlighting best practices, tips, quizzes and polls on digital literacy topics, with content delivered through Facebook and Instagram
• Modules on online safety, privacy, news, and media literacy, and digital citizenship

Facebook is committed to the well-being of individuals and communities visiting its platforms and has invested in initiatives designed to “build awareness on responsible online behaviour, critical thinking, and understanding of social issues,” it said.