Digital literacy & critical thinking
Lubuto continues to demonstrate libraries’ increasing relevance in the digital age by offering hands-on computer coding programs that help Zambian youth become confident, high-achieving technology leaders Starting in 2019, a pilot coding program for vulnerable girls (in Lusaka) and a residential camp (in Nabukuyu Village)promote understanding of computational logic, the development of problem-solving and creative technical thinking skills, and the building of life skills such as leadership and teamwork through immersive, hands-on instruction in programming, computer logic, circuitry, electronics, robotics and physical programming, and computer systems and architecture. At the week-long residential camp held in April 2019, over half of the participants were out-of-school, one-third were orphaned, and the group included girls removed from child marriages.
All Lubuto libraries offer free access to computers, internet and in-demand digital resources such as instructional videos developed by Zambia’s Ministry of General Education to teach the secondary school curriculum to out-of-school learners, LubutoLiteracy lessons that teach early grade reading in Zambia’s seven major local languages, and an evidence-based phonics software package developed for English language learners. New libraries include accessible technology for blind or visually impaired users. We advocate for free Internet for all public libraries in Zambia, providing an essential link to the wider world and opportunity.
