Facebook launches digital skilling, mentorship programme

Facebook has launched a digital skilling, mentorship programme, named Going Online As Leaders (GOAL). The programme is introduced with an aim to inspire and guide tribal girls in five states to become village-level digital leaders for their communities. 

Facebook said in a statement, "Spanning across West Bengal, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, the initiative seeks to nurture and train young girls from India's tribal heartland across three core areas - digital literacy, life skills, leadership and entrepreneurship." 

The programme will be seeing 25 eminent personalities from diverse backgrounds such as business, education and health to politics, arts and entrepreneurship volunteering, mentoring four girls each from tribal communities in these five states. 

"Spanning a period of one year, the programme will see on-ground trainers impart digital literacy to the identified girls through a dedicated digital skilling curriculum while the 25 women leaders mentor them via Facebook or WhatsApp on a fortnightly basis," the statement stated.

In order to be a part of the programme, applicants will be required to be more than 18 years of age and of tribal origin. 

The statement added, "The programme will specifically focus on girls who've dropped out of school due to financial constraints, reside near the skilling center to ensure regular participation."