Africell and MMW Empower Over 300 Girls and Women Through Digitruck Salone Digital Skills Project
In a bold move to bridge the digital divide and foster technological empowerment among women and girls, Africell Sierra Leone has partnered with Media Matters for Women (MMW) to deliver digital literacy training to over 300 schoolgirls and female entrepreneurs in rural areas across the country.
The transformative initiative, known as the Digitruck Salone Project, is spearheaded by MMW with financial backing from Close the Gap through the Internet Society Foundation. Africell’s support has been central in rolling out this mobile digital classroom to remote communities, offering practical tech training and opening new paths for education, entrepreneurship, and empowerment.
A Classroom on Wheels
The Digitruck itself is a striking example of innovation in development. A converted 40-foot shipping container, the mobile unit is equipped with solar power, Wi-Fi, laptops, and other digital tools. It is designed to travel through under-resourced areas—specifically the Western Area Rural District, Bombali, and Kenema—bringing education directly to those who need it most.
According to Alinah Oliet Kallon, Project Manager for Digitruck Salone, a total of 308 schoolgirls and 31 female entrepreneurs have benefited from the project so far.
“With the help of Africell and other partners, we are able to achieve our goal of empowering girls with digital tools to enhance their learning and help women grow their businesses,” she said.
She further emphasized the program’s impact on narrowing the gender gap in technology access, a persistent issue especially pronounced in rural communities.
Africell’s Vision for Inclusion
Speaking at a recent event commemorating the project’s progress, Africell’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Joe Abass Bangura, offered both personal insights and corporate commitment. Reflecting on his own humble beginnings and rise to leadership, Bangura spoke to the power of opportunity and access.
“Every child has the potential to change their world. What they need is access and opportunity,” he said. “Projects like Digitruck are not just about technology—they are about hope, growth, and a better future.”
He commended MMW and its partners for their relentless efforts to empower young people and women in Sierra Leone, reaffirming Africell’s long-standing commitment to digital inclusion and community development.
“We believe in the power of partnerships to create meaningful change,” Bangura stated. “Africell will continue to support initiatives that uplift communities and unlock human potential.”
Wider Impact and Sustainability
This initiative is not Africell’s first foray into social impact. The telecommunications giant has a track record of supporting tech education and innovation through nationwide coding boot camps, mobile computer labs, and STEM-focused outreach programs.
Through its collaboration with MMW and other stakeholders, the Digitruck Salone Project is paving the way for a generation of tech-savvy women and girls, capable of participating fully in Sierra Leone’s digital economy.
As the Digitruck continues its journey across the country, stopping in schools, community centers, and marketplaces, it serves not only as a symbol of progress but as a mobile beacon of hope—driven by partnerships, powered by technology, and grounded in the belief that no one should be left behind in the digital age.
