Location: UGANDA
Beneficiaries: Teachers and students in 8 rural schools
Across Eastern Uganda’s Busoga Region, Mr. Isabirye Beka Ntende is transforming educational opportunities through an innovative initiative called “ICT4Education and Youth Empowerment.” The project addresses a critical gap in digital literacy that affects 380 schools in the region, where students have traditionally been cut off from the digital revolution that shapes modern education and employment.
Understanding that digital literacy is no longer a luxury but a necessity, Ntende developed a creative solution: a mobile computer lab that brings technology directly to rural schools. This innovative approach ensures that students who would otherwise have no access to computers can gain essential skills in computer hardware, software, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Internet browsing.
The Impact of the Seed Grant
The Pollination Project’s grant has catalyzed incredible progress in bridging the digital divide. Over twelve months, the project has reached 700 learners across eight schools in the Jinja District, delivering hands-on computer training through their mobile lab. The impact has been significant, with students showing a 60% increase in their understanding of basic computer modules. Even more encouraging, 70% of enrolled students successfully completed all four modules of the computer literacy program.
Beyond the numbers, the project’s success lies in its comprehensive approach to community engagement. Ntende and his team participate in Parent-Teacher Association meetings, creating a supportive ecosystem for digital learning. They’ve also implemented a sustainable model by training rural teachers, ensuring the knowledge continues to cascade through the school system even after the initial program ends.
The impact extends far beyond basic computer skills. Students from participating schools have shown increased engagement in their education, using their new digital skills to research academic interests and explore career opportunities beyond their immediate environment. This exposure to the wider world through technology has opened new horizons for rural students who previously had limited access to information about educational and professional possibilities.
What makes ICT4Education particularly effective is its focus on long-term sustainability. By equipping teachers with digital skills, the project ensures that computer literacy can be integrated into the regular curriculum, creating a lasting impact that extends beyond the initial training period. Students graduate from the program with practical skills they can apply to both their academic pursuits and future professional development.
Through The Pollination Project’s support, ICT4Education is empowering a new generation of digitally literate young people in rural Uganda, preparing them for success in an increasingly digital world. The project’s success has culminated in the establishment of an organization dedicated to expanding its reach. This organization will build mobile computer labs across districts in Uganda to ensure access to computer literacy among learners in rural schools.
Isabirye Beka Ntende
Isabirye Beka Ntende is the founder and Team Leader of Tech Reach Africa, a social enterprise revolutionizing digital literacy through mobile computer labs in Uganda. With over 9 years in community development, Ntende has dedicated his career to bridging the digital divide in education and youth employment.
As a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, he has collaborated with organizations like Restless Development Uganda, Irise International, and Dance4life since 2014. His volunteer work spans active citizenship initiatives, youth and women’s economic empowerment programs, and advocacy for quality education. Through Tech Reach Africa, Ntende continues to drive meaningful change in rural communities by making digital literacy accessible to those who need it most.
Join The Pollination Project in seeding a global movement of grassroots change. When we invest in passionate local leaders, small acts of generosity blossom into lasting impact. Every dollar you give takes root in communities, growing into sustainable solutions that touch countless lives.
