Global Alliance for Africa is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization focused on digital education in Africa and based in Chicago, IL. 

**Global Alliance for Africa (GAA) Mission Statement**

To collaborate with local partners to bridge the digital divide in educational opportunities and in technological resources for public school students in remote rural areas and urban slums in North African and Sub-Saharan African communities. We strongly believe that ***ICT Education is Essential to Breaking the Cycle of Poverty.***

**See our proposal here and partner with us.**

**Organizational Profile**

Increasing digital connectivity for poor, disadvantaged and under-resourced youth will foster multigenerational wealth, pivoting education as being the cornerstone that effects transformational growth, fostering a sustainable future built in equity.

In collaboration with public middle and secondary schools, universities, local agencies, community-based organizations, and various cooperatives, GAA has been at the forefront of building partnerships to design, implement and manage successful educational development and training programs in Africa.

**Statement of Need**

To close the digital divide in Africa, some say that stakeholders need to rethink universal access and broadband policies, promote equal access to digital technology and Increase investment.

**Current Statistics**

- **Broadband access**: In 2022, only 36% of Africa's population had broadband internet access. 
- **Mobile internet availability**: While 70% of Africa's population has access to mobile internet, less than 25% use it. 
- **Digital gender gap**: In 2020, 35% of men and 24% of women in Africa used the internet. 
- **Affordability**: In 2019, the average cost of one gigabyte of mobile data was 10.5% of monthly per-capita Gross National Income (GNI), which is higher than the United Nations Broadband Commission's recommended 2% target. 
- **Digital literacy**: Africa has a significant divide in digital skills. 
- **Digital infrastructure**: Africa's digital infrastructure coverage, access, and quality lag other regions. 
- **Digital competitiveness**: In 2021, Egypt ranked first in Africa in the digital competitiveness index, followed by the Gambia and Tanzania. 

As recently as January 2024 datareportal.com reports that more than 90% of the U.S. population has access to the Internet — whereas in rural areas throughout Morocco there is limited access, and in Kenya 40.8%, Tanzania 31.9% and Uganda 27% of the population has NO such access. Without urgent action, the situation will likely get worse as the region faces a rising demand for education due to a still-growing school-age population.

**Funding Request:** To offer a holistic, scalable program to bridge the inequity gap in digital access and education for 20,000 students in 50 public middle schools and secondary schools in Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania and Uganda. Through a coalition of community-based partners, GAA will lead the Digital Learning Program whose objective is to assure: A world where all can access reliable high-speed internet, devices, learning content, and digital literacy skills. By fostering equal access and proficiency in navigating the digital landscape, we empower current and future generations.

**Program Description Goals:**

Bridging the digital divide is not exclusive to the gap between wealthy nations and poor countries; it also encompasses the growing internal divide in developing countries between middle class families who can afford to send their children to private schools that are equipped with computer labs versus poor households whose children attend schools public schools that have minimal or no technological resources. For digital equity to be successful, technology tools must be **accessible**; schools, learners and families must be able to **affordably** access and maintain them; and learners and families must have the information and skills to **adopt** the technology. These three pillars—**access, affordability, and adoption**—must all exist and work together for communities to remain connected and fully participate as informed citizens in society and the global economy.

**Proof of Concept**

This request is an expansion of a current program already approved by the Ministries of Education in each of four countries in Africa, and has a proven record of success for the five year in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya; rural areas of the Atlas Mountains in southern Morocco; in and around Arusha, Tanzania; and in West Nile Region (including students from the refugee settlements), in southwest Uganda.

**IMPACT Report (AS OF 6/30/2024)**

·      Number of Students: more than 16,000

·      Of the total number of students that the program will reach, approximately 45% of them are female students, plus a growing percentage of students in Uganda in the program are refugees.

·      Number of Teachers: more than 220

·      Number of Countries: 4 — Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, Uganda

·      Number of Locations: 35, including 33 public schools, two faith-based schools, one technology training center

·      Partners: Al-Alakawayn University (Morocco), Tangaza University (Kenya), Muni University (Uganda)

·      The Program Provides:

—Lenovo Laptop Computers

—Samsung A7 and Samsung A8 Tablets

—External keyboards for tablets

—Coverings for computers and tablets

—Secure storage containers for laptops and tablets

—Internet Connectivity, including routers/modems

—Teachers workshop trainings

—Textbooks

—Software applications in math, french language, history, literature and more

**Rationale for the Program**

Digital literacy and accessibility are widely regarded as a basic component of civic life and has enormous impact on education, economic development, social welfare, social equity as well as the increased public participation in elections and development of good governance, and access to expanding opportunities both at the local and international level.

A digital learning program for poor and vulnerable students will develop digital skills and provide them with the lifelong ability to navigate the internet. Presently, for example, university application forms are all online, which provides a distinct advantage to urban students who have computer training and access to the internet, whereas rural students are hindered from apply to university due to their lack of computer training as well as access to the internet in rural areas. This results in an even more pronounced digital divide that excludes poorer, rural students from entering higher education.

Of the total number of students that the program will reach, approximately 45% of them are female students, and a growing percentage of students in Uganda are refugees.

Total Cost of the Program: Between $26-$38 per student.

Global Alliance for Africa

Surge is a nonprofit organization with a global mission. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Surge was founded in 2008.

Surge for Water's mission is to invest in communities with safe water, sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health solutions to help end the cycle of poverty.

To date, Surge has provided safe water and sanitation access to hundreds of thousands of people in 12 countries — while keeping true to our core values of sustainability, local empowerment, and equality for all.

Surge For Water

Franciscan Peacemakers Inc connects survivors of sexual exploitation to housing, meaningful work and a healing network of support.

OUTREACH MINISTRY

Franciscan Peacemakers have had a visible presence on the streets since 1995 distributing bag lunches and personal hygiene items, allowing us to be in contact with women engaging in prostitution due to sexual exploitation, trauma, human sex trafficking, and drug addiction. In service to both these women and the wider community, we develop trust over time and provide information about Franciscan Peacemakers’ healing pathway to a sustainable healthy, safe, and productive life. 

Franciscan Peacemakers Hospitality Center on Lisbon Avenue opened in August 2019 to provide a respite from the streets. The sanctuary provides a place to meet basic needs (restrooms and food) while also offering an opportunity for longer conversations with Franciscan Peacemakers staff. The Hospitality Center has been key to the referral of women from the streets into the Clare Community program since it has opened. 



HOUSING AND HEALING

Clare Community was opened in January 2014 in response to the growing need for resident-based trauma care for the women served by Franciscan Peacemakers' Outreach efforts. Named in honor of St. Clare of Assisi, Clare Community is a unique holistic program where exploited women find sanctuary and connections to resources needed to become sober, stable, safe, and prostitution-free while living in and contributing to the community. Clare Community consists of a residential facility that can provide two years of housing for up to 10 residents who live at the St. Bakhita Catholic Worker House.

Clare Community also encompasses a network of clients and volunteers who are not in residence but are committed to journeying together in healing. This community and staff gathers weekly for ‘Candlelighting’ - a time for prayer, reflection and mutual support.

EMPLOYMENT

The Franciscan Peacemakers Social Enterprise (formerly known as Gifts for the Journey) was launched in January 2013 as a supportive workplace where women in recovery from drug addiction and/or sexual exploitation are employed while learning skills in manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and sales. While acquiring the skills they need to earn a living wage, the employees who live at Clare Community have the opportunity to put a percentage of their earnings in a matched savings account to begin a strong financial foundation upon their graduation from Clare Community.

Franciscan Peacemakers products include soaps, lotions, candles, bath bombs and salt scrubs - beautifully handmade with all-natural ingredients by women working together toward individual and collective healing.

EDUCATION

With our service rooted in Franciscan Spirituality we are committed to creating community awareness about women engaging in prostitution due to trauma, human sex trafficking, and drug addiction, including why it exists and persists.

Members of our Board and Staff speak to faith communities, community service organizations, businesses, schools, and foundations. We explain how to recognize the signs of human trafficking and how Franciscan Peacemakers ministries are working to help address the problem and provide a healing pathway to a sustainable healthy, safe, productive life for women seeking healing and recovery. 


Franciscan Peacemakers Inc

HandsOn Suburban Chicago positively impacts communities by connecting people to enriching volunteer experiences.

CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE  "Like" us to receive updates on our volunteer and nonprofit resources and opportunities! http://www.handsonsuburbanchicago.org/

HandsOn Suburban Chicago

C4WF funds programs that break the cycle of poverty in Quito, operates year-long volunteer and service-learning visitor programs.

**The Center for Working Families (C4WF)** is a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by supporting transformative programs in Quito, Ecuador, while also shaping future leaders through service-learning experiences in the U.S. C4WF provides critical funding for **The Center – A Family of Families**, which provides comprehensive programs like education, healthcare, job training, food security, and social services to vulnerable families. In addition, C4WF operates a year-long volunteer program and group visiting program- giving participants firsthand exposure to global poverty and sustainable solutions. By investing in both local and global impact, C4WF empowers families to build brighter futures while inspiring the next generation of changemakers

Center for Working Families

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