Dozens of young people in Namibia have gained new skills in digital safety and inclusion following the deployment of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE), an initiative of Paradigm Initiative.
The gamified learning programme, designed as a custom board game, introduces students to digital rights and online safety concepts in an engaging and accessible format. The Namibia launch marks the latest stop in PIN’s African tour aimed at empowering youth with the knowledge to navigate the digital space safely and responsibly.
DRIBLE, developed with support from the Open Society Foundations, has previously been piloted at the University of Lagos, Dakar American University of Science and Technology, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and the University of Zambia. The organisation aims to reach 20 million people through its digital inclusion and digital rights interventions.
Speaking at the event, PIN’s Executive Director, Gbenga Sesan, urged students to build relevant technology skills that will set them apart in a competitive digital economy.
“You are digital natives. So the question for you is, ‘what are the skills I need to pick up and invest in now?’ You must build the relevant skills that will make you stand out,” he said.
In her welcome remarks, Nashilongo Gervasius Nakale of NamTshuwe Digital Hub, the local partner and organiser, encouraged participants to look beyond simply using technology and to understand its broader social and human rights implications.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Edward Nepolo, Head of the Department of Computer Science at the National University of Science and Technology, emphasised Africa’s growing role in global technology development.
“Africa is not a promise for the future anymore; it is a force to be reckoned with now. We should not be comfortable being consumers of technology; we should take our space and play our part in the development and shaping of technology,” he said.
Since its founding in 2007 in Lagos, Paradigm Initiative has expanded operations across Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, impacting more than 150,000 young Africans. DRIBLE complements other PIN initiatives such as Ripoti, a digital rights reporting platform, and Ayeta, a digital security toolkit for activists and vulnerable groups.
The Namibia launch represents another milestone in the organisation’s efforts to equip African youth with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to thrive safely in the digital age while safeguarding their rights in an evolving technological landscape.
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