Bridging the Digital Divide: My First Session as Thrive Nest Ghana’s Training and Impact Officer
By Marvin Selassie Ackuayi
My journey with ThriveNest Ghana began with the DICE Program, where I had the privilege of facilitating a digital literacy training for TVET informal sector workers in Tamale, Ghana.
At first glance, it may seem that in today’s world where smartphones are everywhere and tools like WhatsApp Business and Facebook Pages are widely available, workers in these sectors would already be using them to grow their businesses. Surprisingly, the reality is far from that. Many participants admitted it was their first time exploring Meta AI features on their phones.
As I guided them through the session, it became clear to us at ThriveNest Ghana that a significant digital divide still exists between formal and informal sector workers. Unfortunately, those in the informal sector are often excluded from digital skills training programs that could transform their businesses and livelihoods.
By the end of the session, participants had learned:
- How to use WhatsApp Business and Facebook Business effectively
- The basics of prompt engineering for AI platforms like ChatGPT and Meta AI
- How to create flyers, logos, and engaging business posts using AI tools
The joy and excitement on their faces spoke volumes about the impact of digital skills training. For many, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in how they approach their entrepreneurial ventures.
In subsequent sessions, participants will be introduced to additional tools for digital marketing, business record-keeping, hosting group meetings online, and more; all aimed at enhancing their entrepreneurship skills and helping them compete in today’s marketplace.
At ThriveNest Ghana, this is exactly why we exist: to bridge the digital divide in Ghana, empower communities, and ensure that everyone can leverage technology and AI tools to improve their lives and businesses.
Marvin Selassie Ackuayi
Training & Impact Officer, Thrive Nest
