Archive for category: Technology

Information and stories about technology news.

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Cocoa Blockchain in Ghana: Technology Tracks Supply Chains

Cocoa Blockchain in GhanaEvery cocoa bean leaving a farm in Ghana can now be tracked through a digital ledger that all authorized supply chain participants can view. This cocoa blockchain in Ghana allows farmers, cooperatives, exporters and retailers to verify cocoa products’ origin, ethical sourcing and fair compensation. This creates a level of transparency and trust that has never existed before.

Cocoa Blockchain in Ghana

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), through the Global Quality and Standards Project (GQSP), is leading a project for cocoa blockchain in Ghana. They aim to explore how blockchain technology can improve transparency, traceability and sustainability in the cocoa supply chain.

Through funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implementation with Supply Chain Information Management B.V. (SIM), the project assesses the readiness of Ghana’s cocoa value chain to adopt blockchain. It maps key transactions and identifies potential challenges and benefits.

By securely recording and sharing data across the network, blockchain enables real-time monitoring of provenance, quality, environmental compliance and social standards from Ghanaian farmers to European chocolate producers.

In the long run, this digital infrastructure has the potential to attract investment, expand access to global markets and equip Ghana’s cocoa sector to compete more effectively in an increasingly sustainability-driven economy.

Ghana Coca Sector

Ghana’s cocoa and agriculture sectors are a big deal, employing some 800,000 farm families in Ghana and generating some $2 billion in foreign exchange annually. The sector makes up much of Ghana’s gross domestic product (GDP). Issues like fraud, unethical sourcing and a lack of supply chain transparency still plague this thriving industry, jeopardizing fair farmer compensation and hurting Ghana’s reputation abroad.

By establishing an unchangeable, transparent ledger that records every step of production, guarantees that farmers receive payments, confirms moral labor practices and lowers fraud through real-time traceability, blockchain technology solves these problems.

Blockchain for Fair Cocoa Trade

European retailers and chocolate manufacturers are investing in blockchain to verify sustainable sourcing. This ensures that premiums for certified, high-quality cocoa reach the right farmers. Indeed, the goal is to improve incomes and support living wages.

The pilot represents a first milestone in applying blockchain to Ghana’s cocoa sector. It builds on more than a decade of UNIDO-supported quality infrastructure and trade capacity projects. Additionally, it is laying the foundation for scaling digital traceability, empowering smallholder farmers and promoting ethical sourcing.

Conclusion

As a cocoa blockchain in Ghana becomes embraced, the benefits extend far beyond technology. Smallholder farmers can receive fairer compensation and increased sales by creating stronger transparency and reliability of ethically sourced cocoa from Ghana. Chocolate companies (especially European ones with stronger ties to Ghana’s cocoa products) can buy more reliably from Ghanaian farmers. Furthermore, consumers will be happy to have that stronger trust and transparency in sourcing the chocolate they enjoy.

– Isaac Nelson

Isaac is based in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Coding Bootcamps in Rwanda: Breaking the Poverty Cycle

Coding Bootcamps in RwandaCoding bootcamps in Rwanda create pathways into well-paid tech work by linking government policy with private training providers. Through partnerships between the Government of Rwanda and Andela, intensive programs are upskilling youth, especially young women and connecting graduates to remote roles with international companies.

How Coding Bootcamps in Rwanda Work

In 2018, the Rwanda Development Board (RBD) and Andela agreed to establish a pan-African tech hub in Kigali. They plan to recruit up to 500 Rwandans and provide them with paid training, preparing them to serve a global client base.

Today, Andela’s nine-month Andela Technical Leadership Program (ATLP), run in partnership with the Ministry of ICT & Innovation, trains engineers in team-based software development and professional skills. As a full-time career accelerator, it covers modern web development and distributed team practices.

The Igire Rwanda Organization complements this pipeline with its SheCanCODE academy, which reports having “delivered more than 800 women to the job market” since 2016. U.N. Women documents recent SheCanCODE cohorts and outcomes, as the program cohorts run intensively (roughly 12–14 weeks) and move learners from fundamentals to production-ready projects with career support.

The Ministry of ICT also runs national teen coding bootcamps to widen the future talent pool. These programs nurture young talent early and help ensure that Rwanda’s technology ecosystem continues to expand inclusively across genders and age groups.

What Sets These Bootcamps Apart

  • Public–private design links training to real vacancies.
  • Students learn industry stacks and remote workflows from day one.
  • Career services connect graduates to Andela’s global marketplace and Girls in ICT networks.

Because of these bootcamps, graduates aren’t just earning certificates, but are gaining far better access to career opportunities than before. Communications about Andela’s Rwanda apprenticeship/ATLP note strong placement outcomes (e.g., high employment among graduates) and a growing channel of junior engineers.

Because Andela operates a global remote talent marketplace, many roles are with international employers and often outpace typical local entry-level wages. Additionally, from a broader perspective, Rwanda’s strategy is building connections that drive growth in its tech economy, linking it to the global market.

Kigali Innovation City is a tech-and-education district that aims to bring universities, R&D labs, startups and investors together in one area to help Rwanda build exportable tech and attract foreign investment. The district also provides incubator spaces, mentorship programs and networking opportunities to foster collaboration among local and international innovators. By concentrating talent and resources, Kigali Innovation City seeks to accelerate Rwanda’s digital transformation, create high-skilled jobs and position the country as a leading technology hub in East Africa.

The Remaining Gap and Why Targeted Programs Matter

Women have historically been underrepresented in STEM in Rwanda; programs like SheCanCODE and ATLP help close that gap. Ultimately, public–private partnerships are turning coding bootcamps in Rwanda into pathways to remote, higher-paying tech jobs for young women, all while advancing Rwanda’s ambition to be a regional tech powerhouse.

– Riddhi Sharma

Riddhi is based in Richmond,BC, Canada and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Solar-Powered Cinema in Zambia’s Rural Communities

Solar-Powered CinemaA solar-powered cinema in Zambia is turning nights into opportunities for learning, laughter and community building. Sunshine Cinema, Africa’s first solar-powered mobile cinema network, uses renewable energy to bring films—and vital information on health, agriculture and human rights—to villages where electricity is scarce or non-existent. In places where poverty is a daily reality, these screenings are more than entertainment; they are a powerful tool for education, empowerment, and economic opportunity.

Origins in Zambia

The concept began in 2013, when filmmakers Sydelle Willow Smith and Rowan Pybus screened their documentary Amazing Grace, which profiled Zambian conservationist Lloyd Maanyina. Despite being the central figure in the film, Maanyina’s own village could not watch it due to a lack of internet, cinemas or affordable streaming options. That moment sparked the creation of the SunBox, a solar-powered “cinema in a box” containing a projector, speakers, and a battery system.

From the start, the goal was simple but ambitious: to bring relevant films directly to communities, using technology that could operate off-grid. By 2017, Sunshine Cinema had evolved into a nonprofit organization operating in Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Kenya.

The organization trains SunBox Ambassadors—young people from underserved communities—to run screenings, facilitate discussions, and earn income as media entrepreneurs. This solar-powered mobile cinema model brings clean energy, new job opportunities and access to life-changing information to regions where these resources are scarce.

Poverty Reduction Through Storytelling and Jobs

At its core, the solar-powered cinema in Zambia is a poverty-fighting initiative. Ambassadors learn about event facilitation, digital marketing and community engagement, allowing them to transform screenings into reliable income sources. In rural areas that lack infrastructure and formal jobs are rare, this work not only supports individuals but also strengthens the local economy.

Co-founder Rowan Pybus explained: “We train youth in digital marketing and impact facilitation… we run outdoor screening events, celebrating African film and run media training workshops promoting active citizenry.”

This approach makes the solar cinema project more than just a film delivery system—it is a sustainable small-business model that equips participants with transferable skills for other industries.

Each screening is carefully curated to include both engaging entertainment and practical knowledge. In Zambia, screenings of “I Am Not a Witch” were a topic of community discussions about women’s rights and the balance between tradition and progress. These dialogues give residents the chance to share perspectives, ask questions, and propose solutions to pressing local issues.

The mobile cinema could also act as a renewable energy classroom. By demonstrating how the SunBox operates entirely on solar power, audiences see first-hand the potential of clean energy to reduce fuel costs, cut pollution and improve quality of life.

Conclusion

Co-founder Sydelle Willow Smith summed up the mission: “Our model is a hybrid of storytelling, sustainability, and youth entrepreneurship… By using solar power and training young changemakers, we’ve created a platform that reduces carbon emissions, fosters grassroots dialogue, and creates meaningful work in the informal and green economies,” Lioness of Africa reports.

In rural Zambia, where access to electricity and formal education resources is often limited, the solar-powered cinema in Zambia offers more than just light on a screen—it provides livelihoods, vital knowledge, and inspiration. By combining renewable energy with cultural storytelling, this solar cinema project is reducing poverty, strengthening communities, and sparking a new generation’s curiosity about technology, filmmaking and clean energy.

– Mamie Hirsh

Mamie is based in Berkeley, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Education in Estonia: From ‘Tiger Leap’ to an AI Future

Education in Estonia
Estonia is an Eastern European country between Latvia and Russia, bordering the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. It is a high-income country of approximately 1.2 million people.

Estonia had been under centuries of Danish, Swedish, German and Russian rule when it gained independence in 1918, only to be forced into the USSR in 1940. The country regained its current independence in 1991.

Estonian Education System

Education in Estonia is comprehensive and compulsory through grade 9, although a reform is being prepared to extend compulsory education to the age of 18, to be implemented from the school year 2025-26, which will bring the country in line with other OECD countries. Preschool begins at 18 months and basic education at age 7. Students with special needs are mainstreamed in regular classes. School is free, including lunch, textbooks, transportation and necessary support services.

After completing their primary education, students can continue to general secondary education or to secondary vocational school. Completion of secondary education allows students to pursue a preprofessional higher educational institution or vocational education, although students who have completed a vocational secondary school can only advance to vocational education.

PISA 2022 (Program for International Student Assessment) ranked Estonian students at the top in Europe and in the top eight in the world. Among European countries, Estonia was 1st-2nd in math with Switzerland, 1st in science, and 1st-2nd in reading with Ireland. 

Estonia’s Educational Leap into Technology

Tiger Leap: After returning to independence in 1991, Estonia initiated the modernization of its education system. Underlying this move was the belief that information technology should be used for the benefit of social development. Tiger Leap was launched in 1996 by three key people: Lennart Meri, President of Estonia; Jaak Aaviksoo, Minister of Education; and Toomas Hendrik Ilves, then ambassador to the U.S. and later president of Estonia. Tiger Leap stood on three pillars: (1) computers and the internet, (2) basic teacher training and (3) native-language electronic courseware for general education institutions. By 2000, all Estonian schools had computers and by 2001, all were connected to the internet. Local funds supported this leap, matched by the Tiger Leap Foundation. In the initial year of 1997, 4,000 teachers received training, followed by thousands more in subsequent years.

Later programs included Tiger Leap Plus, ProgeTiger and IT Academy. Tiger Leap Plus focused on competencies needed for information and communications technologies. The ProgeTiger and IT Academy programs launched in 2012. ProgeTiger focused on the technological literacy and digital competence of teachers and students. IT Academy was a cooperation and development program among the state, ICT sector companies and universities, to increase the number of ICT professionals.

AI Leap 2025: AI Leap 2025 is Estonia’s move to incorporate cutting-edge artificial intelligence applications into its education system. Estonia believes it is the first, or one of the first countries to introduce AI into the entire nationwide education system at one time, rather than piecemeal, in specific schools or regions, as has been done elsewhere. The long-term goal of the AI leap is more efficient, personalized, diverse and inclusive teaching. Says Slim Sikkut, a member of Estonian President Alar Karis’s Digital Council and former Government CIO of Estonia, “We also want to reduce the digital technology divide and prevent a new divide between those who are AI savvy and those who are not.”

Initially, 20,000 10th and 11th grade high school students will get access to AI apps, and 3,000 teachers will receive training on how best to use them. The goal is for students to build a skillset that will allow them to remain competitive at personal, company, and national levels. President Karis initiated AI Leap 2025, with the participation of various entrepreneurs and the Ministry of Education and is funded jointly by the government and the private sector. Teacher training is scheduled to begin in fall 2025. Teachers, students, academics, businesses and community members have formed working groups to define target competencies, curricula, tools and training programs.

A Strategy for the Future

Estonia’s technology education programs are one aspect of Estonia’s Education Development Plan 2021-2035, to enhance the “digital and entrepreneurial competencies of learners and educators.” Combined with the plan’s goals of high-quality and inclusive education for all, lifelong learning and innovation, the technology leaps should support the ultimate goal of the well-being and development of learners and educators. 

– Staff Reports

Photo: Flickr

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Early Warnings for All (EW4All): Global Alert Systems

ew4allIn February 2025, a grandmother in Bua, Fiji, received a single text message: “Evacuate to higher ground.” She gathered her grandchildren and left just hours before a flash flood consumed the riverbanks. That text saved five lives. Fiji secured a grant of FJ$29 million ($12.9 million) from the Green Climate Fund in support of the Early Warnings for All initiative (EW4All), bringing life-saving alerts within reach of the most vulnerable

What is Early Warnings for All

Launched by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022, the EW4All seeks to ensure that every person on Earth is safe thanks to a life-saving multi-hazard early warning system by the end of 2027.

The effort is a direct response to the growing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters. Indeed, from cyclones in the Pacific to droughts in East Africa, communities on the frontlines of natural disasters often have little or no time to prepare. By combining meteorological science, technology, and local preparedness, EW4All aims to close this protection gap worldwide.

A Comprehensive, Multi-Pillar Approach

The initiative is co-led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), with support from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Together, these organizations oversee four essential, end-to-end pillars:

  • Disaster risk knowledge (UNDRR) — mapping hazards and vulnerabilities so communities understand their risk.
  • Detection, observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting (WMO) — ensuring accurate, timely climate and weather predictions.
  • Warning dissemination and communication (ITU) — ensuring alerts reach people through mobile networks, radio, and other channels.
  • Preparedness and response capabilities (IFRC) — enabling communities to take action before a hazard strikes.

These pillars work together. Without accurate data, forecasts lose precision. Without effective communication, warnings go unheard. And without preparedness, even the best warnings cannot save lives.

Tangible Progress: Funding and Country-Level Action

In February 2025, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a groundbreaking $103.2 million in grant financing to bolster EW4All systems in seven climate-vulnerable countries—Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Chad, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, and Somalia—benefiting more than 26 million people.

This project, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), carries a total investment of $114.6 million, including $11.3 million in co-financing from IFRC, ITU, WMO, and national governments

In Fiji, the FJ$29 million ($12.9 million) grant focuses on expanding early warning coverage in remote areas, integrating hazard monitoring with local communication systems and providing training for

Why Early Warnings Matter and Deliver Impact

Early warning systems are among the most cost-effective tools in disaster risk reduction. The Global Status Report (2022) shows that countries with substantive-to-comprehensive early warning coverage experience eight times lower disaster mortality than countries with limited coverage.

Providing just 24 hours’ notice before a hazardous event can reduce damage by about 30% and investing $800 million in early warning systems in developing countries could avoid losses of $3–16 billion annually

Scaling Impact Through Partnerships

The EW4All initiative not only coordinates funding but also drives technical assistance and national policy support. The EW4All Advisory Panel, co-chaired by the heads of WMO and UNDRR, meets twice a year to assess progress, address gaps, and align resources.

On the technology front, ITU has mobilized partnerships with mobile operators such as GSMA, Safaricom and Telefónica to deploy cell-broadcast and location-based SMS in at-risk countries, ensuring alerts are not dependent on internet access.

In parallel, the IFRC works directly with communities to run evacuation drills, distribute preparedness kits, and ensure that warnings lead to action.

A Positive Forward Outlook

As natural disaster risks intensify, EW4All out as a global solution that saves lives while protecting livelihoods. By preventing deaths, reducing asset loss and maintaining community stability, EW4All indirectly supports poverty reduction. Disasters often push vulnerable households deeper into poverty; effective early warning systems break that cycle by enabling people to protect their homes, crops and sources of income.

With two years remaining until the 2027 deadline, progress is accelerating. From the Pacific Islands to the Horn of Africa, EW4All is laying the groundwork for a safer, more resilient future—where no one faces disaster without warning.

– Prayosha Patel

Prayosha is based in Gujarat, India and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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SuaCode and NaijaCoder: Tech Education Breaking Barriers

SuaCode All around the world, poverty limits access to quality education and job opportunities. However, technology in the Global South is creating new paths. More than 80% of Africans access the internet via mobile phones instead of desktops. In Ghana and Nigeria, two innovative programs, SuaCode and NaijaCoder, are showing how leveraging technology can bridge the poverty gap.

By providing tech education through smartphones, these initiatives help young people, specifically those in low-income and rural areas, gain the skills they require to escape poverty and build a better future. Coding on your phone can reduce barriers such as cost, electricity and location.

Accessibility Through Mobile-First Learning

Learning coding has proved to be challenging as it often requires laptops, stable internet and electricity, all of which are expensive. Students in impoverished communities do not have access to these costly resources. SuaCode and NaijaCoder have successfully changed by offering programming lessons through smartphones, which are devices that are far more accessible across the Global South.

SuaCode in Ghana teaches Python programming through an Android app that is accessible on smartphones. The lessons can also be accessed offline. Similarly, NaijaCoder in Nigeria offers hands-on training through phones and remote workshops. These models make coding more inclusive and realistic for students who might otherwise be left behind.

Tech Skills Reduce Poverty and Boost Job Access

Learning to code opens up a range of economic opportunities for students all over the world. Students gain skills that make them eligible for various employment opportunities such as freelancing, remote work and launching a startup. As of 2023, Ghana’s youth unemployment rate among those aged 15 to 24 stood at 23.7%. This demonstrated roughly 754,00 youths actively seeking work but unable to find it. While in Nigeria, the youth unemployment rate for the age bracket reached 8.6% in 2023. Therefore, for many in Ghana and Nigeria, gaining digital literacy can mean the difference between being stuck in a cycle of poverty or breaking free from it.

Initiatives like SuaCode and NaijaCode help bridge the digital divide by providing accessible programs for individuals regardless of their financial situation. The skills gained from these training directly boost employability in the expanding global tech market, enabling more young people to earn higher incomes, support their families, and reinvest in their communities.

Empowering Girls and Rural Youth

Poverty disproportionately affects girls and rural communities. In low-income countries, around 90% of teenage girls and young women are offline. Moreover, girls are 35% less likely than boys to possess basic digital skills such as emailing or file management. These statistics highlight how limited school resources, long travel distances, and social barriers keep many girls out of classrooms or tech spaces.

SuaCode and NaijaCoder change this by offering flexible, remote learning opportunities that break geographical barriers. Thus, by equipping girls and rural students with digital skills through coding on their phones, these programs help improve gender equity and help families build financial resilience. When one child gains the ability to work in tech, it can uplift an entire household out of poverty.

Conclusion

Coding via phone with SuaCode and NaijaCoder proves that with innovation and commitment, poverty can be tackled through tech education. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, expanding access to tech education in underserved communities is both innovative and essential for building a more equal and empowered future.

– Anagha Rajithkumar

Anagha is based in Charlottetown, Canada and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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New Agricultural Technology Helping Rwandans

Agricultural Technology Helping RwandansRwanda, a small, landlocked country in Eastern Africa, faces substantial socioeconomic challenges. According to the World Bank, 63.8% of its 14 million people live in poverty. Among the most pressing issues is food insecurity, which remains a critical concern across the country. Government data indicate that 20.6% of the population is food insecure, while the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that “nearly a third of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition.”

Rwanda naturally has very fertile terrain due to its nutrient-rich volcanic soil. By many estimates, more than half of the country’s land is arable. However, despite this advantage, the country imports a significant amount of food. Foodstuffs account for more than 20% of all imports into Rwanda. To address food insecurity, Rwanda needs to better capitalize on its arable land and increase domestic food production. This makes innovations in agricultural technology, helping Rwandans increasingly vital for sustainable development.

Sustainable Agricultural Technology in Action

One way Rwandans are addressing food insecurity is through the adoption of a new sustainable agricultural technology called Juncao. Developed at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in China, Juncao technology involves using chopped grass to cultivate edible mushrooms that both humans and livestock can consume. This method is not only more affordable but also more environmentally friendly compared to traditional mushroom farming techniques that are wood-based instead.

Since its development, Juncao has spread to more than 100 countries, including Rwanda, where it is helping to improve food security and sustainable farming practices. This form of agricultural technology helping Rwandans has been widely supported by the Chinese government under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a vast infrastructure and development strategy aimed at enhancing global connectivity, trade and cooperation across Eurasia, Africa and Latin America.

Impact of Agricultural Technology

Juncao technology has proven highly beneficial in Rwanda, where it is affectionately known as “the happiness herb.” The new agricultural technology’s introduction has been a collaborative effort between local Rwandan government officials and experts from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. As of 2025, Juncao has reached more than 4,000 Rwandan farmers and has generated thousands more jobs across the agricultural value chain.

Juncao technology has also been introduced into schools as a way to improve the diets of Rwandan children. The mushrooms grown using this method are rich in nutrients comparable to those found in meat, yet are significantly more affordable. This makes it possible for children to receive essential nutrients even when families cannot afford animal-based protein, contributing to better health and development outcomes among school-aged children. By showcasing agricultural technology that supports Rwandans at both household and institutional levels, projects like Juncao are paving the way for a healthier and more food-secure population.

Looking Ahead

Introducing nutritious, affordable foods such as Juncao mushrooms into schools improves children’s health and encourages higher attendance. Reliable, healthy meals help students stay in school, focus in class and perform better academically. Higher educational attainment can open a path out of poverty, equipping the next generation with the skills and opportunities to build more resilient, self-sufficient communities.

– William Brentani

William is based in San Francisco, CA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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UNHCR and TECNO: Empowering Young Refugees

UNHCR and TECNOUNHCR has recently announced a three-year expanded partnership with Tecno, a leading technology brand, to address pressing gaps in education for refugee children and youth across Africa. Adding on to five years of successful partnership, the parties launched their new project “Together We Can Bring Education to African Children and Youth”, which supports two UNHCR initiatives: the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) Tertiary Scholarship Program and the Primary Impact Program.

UNHCR Initiatives

The UNHCR aims to inspire disadvantaged students to achieve their true potential through its two successful initiatives. The Primary Impact Initiative focuses on increasing access to primary education, ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment, improving education quality and promoting inclusive education policies. Indeed, since 2023, the program has supplied primary education access to 431,000 displaced children, of whom nearly half were female. In both camps and urban areas, the initiative reached 1,029 primary schools.

The DAFI program offers qualified refugee students an opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree in their country of asylum or home country. The program, which has been ongoing for three decades, remains the foundation of the UNHCR’s strategy to achieve more enrolment of refugees in higher education.

In 2023, 7,890 refugees from 54 countries of origin were enrolled in higher education. Since 1992, the program has supported more than 27,200 young refugees.

Impact of the Partnership

The partnership between TECNO and UNHCR first began in 2020, focusing on providing quality education to refugee children and young people in Africa. However, over the past years, the partnership has reached 40 DAFI scholars and 17,370 refugee children. With this collaboration, the UNHCR focuses on enrolling more than 55,000 children in primary schools in camps located in Dadaab and Kakuma over the next four years.

Kenya is the fifth-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with 774,370 refugees and asylum seekers as of May 2024, according to African Business. Kenya’s refugee camps, Dadaab and Kakuma, house more than 217,000 school-aged refugee children. TECNO’s support will benefit over 7,000 children in Kenya, helping them achieve their potential. It is already helping the UNHCR’s efforts to improve educational outcomes for children in Kenya with the financial support from TECNO, which goes into hygiene kits, infrastructure construction, scholastic materials and resources for teachers.

Conclusion

“TECNO is dedicated to giving back to local communities in Africa …. We believe that education is the key to changing the destiny for refugee children,” said Jack Guo, general manager of TECNO, showing that the initiatives have a true impact with the aid of a leading technology brand like TECNO.

This extended partnership between UNHCR and TECNO showcases the power of investing in education for refugees, offering them a chance to achieve their potential like any other young person in the world. Additionally, it shows a commitment to shaping the world into a more accessible place for people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, which is encouraging for other organisations that take inspiration from the works of UNHCR and use it to motivate more positive change in the world.

– Amaira Katyal

Amaira is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench

Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench: Grandmothers, Therapy, and TechnologyIn Zimbabwe, an ongoing revolution is transforming mental health care, driven by an unlikely group: the country’s grandmothers. These women, with little formal training, sit on park benches, offering not just a shoulder to lean on but evidence-based counselling that’s changing lives. Currently, they are using digital tools to extend their reach beyond the benches, bringing support to even the most isolated communities.

Mental Health Landscape in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s road to its current mental health crisis took shape from years of trauma, from colonial history to the long fight for independence. Over time, socio-economic challenges, including hyperinflation, rampant unemployment and a failing health system, have deepened the emotional toll. As of 2021, the country faces one of the highest suicide rates in the world (23.6 per 100,000), alongside widespread depression and post-traumatic stress. With just 18 psychiatrists serving a population of 17 million, mental health care in Zimbabwe has been inaccessible for most and barely recognized. 

The Birth of the Friendship Bench

 The Friendship Bench began with a simple idea. Dr. Dixon Chibanda, a psychiatrist working in Harare, realized that Zimbabwe’s mental health crisis needed something different from more doctors. So, he turned to a deeply rooted tradition in Zimbabwean culture: the matriarchs of the community.

In 2006, psychiatrist Dr. Dixon Chibanda partnered with local health authorities to train a group of elderly women, many of whom had no formal education in mental health, in a simple yet effective form of therapy called Problem-Solving Therapy (PST). These women, affectionately known as the “grandmothers,” were among the few people with the time and willingness to serve as lay health workers, especially given the country’s severe shortage of mental health professionals. By shifting the model to rely on available, community-rooted personnel, something positive began to take shape.

Sitting on brightly painted benches outside local clinics, these grandmothers became trusted figures in their neighborhoods. They offered more than advice, they listened. Through open, empathetic conversations rooted in cultural familiarity, they used behavioral therapy techniques to address kufungisisa—a Shona term that translates loosely to “thinking too much” and often describes depression or deep emotional distress. Their approach was grounded in traditional values like kusimudzira (to uplift), kuvhurika pfungwa (opening up the mind) and kusimbisa (to strengthen). These weren’t just abstract ideas; they were culturally resonant tools for healing. 

Clinical trials showed that after just a few sessions on the bench, 98% of people who had previously considered suicide were no longer suicidal six months later. People who arrived feeling hopeless left with a sense of dignity, strength and direction. 

Taking a Digital Leap

The pandemic could have halted the progress of the Friendship Bench, but instead, it propelled it into a new era. With Zimbabwe’s already impressive mobile phone penetration (90% of the country has access), the grandmothers began reaching out through WhatsApp and voice calls, extending their therapy services to people who could not make it to a physical bench.

The shift kept the spirit of Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench intact. This digital pivot meant that counselling could reach those in remote villages, women unable to leave their homes and even young people navigating mental health challenges in crowded urban centers. Unexpectedly, it also helped improve communication between the grandmothers and their supervisors, strengthening the support system behind the scenes. What started as a grassroots intervention under a tree had quietly evolved into a scalable, hybrid model. 

A Model for Accessible Global Mental Health

As of 2025, more than 2,000 grandmothers in Zimbabwe are delivering therapy to at least 500,000 people across the 11 provinces. But the model has not stopped at the country’s borders. It is currently in more than nine countries, including Kenya, Malawi and even the United States (U.S.), with each country tailoring the approach to its own cultural and social contexts. Yet wherever it goes, the core stays the same: community-led care, empathy, accessibility and the belief that healing can begin with a simple conversation.

Scaling Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench

According to experts, scaling the Friendship Bench model further will depend on strong collaboration between Zimbabwe’s government, local health authorities and international partners. Sustaining the program’s momentum could mean finding smart ways to integrate it into existing public health and technology infrastructures.

The mobile phone industry, for example, offers real potential, not just for reaching clients, but for training grandmothers, supervising their work, collecting data and enabling real-time support through virtual platforms. By continuing to build on what’s already available, the Friendship Bench could go even further, reaching more people, in more places, with the same message: healing doesn’t have to be out of reach. By adapting an age-old tradition of community care to the digital age, Zimbabwe has created a model for mental health that could potentially be replicated globally. 

– Sriya Regulapati

Sriya is based in Vancouver, Canada and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Friendship Bench

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Digital Libraries In Yemen Are Rebuilding Education

digital libraries in YemenKnown for conflict and war, Yemen is a country whose children are facing the education crisis perpetuated by guns. In some regions, economic issues and poverty prevent children from receiving education.. Yemen faces denial in education because of war and conflict, which in turn leads to poverty and infrastructure issues.

However, alongside massive initiatives, there is a smaller yet effective solution that is arising from the rubble. Digital libraries, libraries that offer educational resources from the cloud, in Yemen, are slowly giving education back to Yemeni children, a right that has been denied for so long.

The Crisis

Ever since conflicts started in the Yemen region, more than 2 million Yemeni children do not have access to education and have had to leave school. Education in Yemen faces both infrastructure issues due to the destruction of buildings and economic issues, as the economy of Yemen grapples with war.

The situation was dire as teachers were seen displaced from their classrooms, and the lack of supplies made the learning process nearly impossible. Additionally, a crucial piece of education infrastructure, electricity, is scarce, leaving even more educational initiatives out of reach for students.

However, digital libraries in Yemen offer a unique solution that provides a step towards the right direction.

A Solution

Digital libraries in Yemen offer a gold mine of offline and rewarding educational content. Initiatives like Rumie and Worldreader preload these digital libraries onto low-cost tablets or mobile phones that provide language books, STEM lessons and more.

These apps all run on affordable mobile devices, which students can update via Bluetooth or micro-SD card transfer, without requiring internet or electricity. Through these devices, students in Yemen are able to gain access to crucial pieces of literature or educational materials that they would have not been able to without digital libraries in Yemen.

The Impact

Long-term solutions are difficult, yet smaller solutions, such as digital libraries, provide a step in the right direction. By restoring access to education, these digital libraries can give opportunities to children to regain daily reading practice. This reduces dropout rates in a time of conflict, and digital libraries in Yemen serve as a temporary solution in an ongoing issue.

With that in mind, more initiatives just like digital libraries in Yemen not only provide a face-value impact to students in Yemen but a further motive for other organizations to put their part within the region.

While a single tablet may be able to serve a couple of children, a single tablet also encourages other organizations to provide more tablets. Through these impacts, digital libraries provide an exponential step towards restoring the educational rights of Yemen.

Restoring education in Yemen could have broader impacts on the economic crisis, conflict crisis, and general wellbeing of the Yemeni population. With the time being, digital libraries in Yemen and other initiatives will continue to serve children and Yemen as a whole.

– Kallen Zhou

Kallen is based in Hattiesburg, MS, USA and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr