Supporting members and women in accessing digital knowledge and skills

After the Dong Nai Women's Union (WU) launched the Digital Literacy Campaign, since the beginning of August, the Women’s Union in many communes and wards has established the first digital models to support members and women in accessing digital knowledge and skills.

Dong Nai Women’s Union ward Long Hung guides officials and members to check information on the VNeID application right after the launch ceremony of the Digital Women’s Club. Photo: Nga Son

The establishment of these models not only helps bring together members and women but also creates a space where officials, members, and women can share experiences and support one another in building their capacity. At the same time, it contributes to advancing digital transformation within the community.

The first digital models

Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, Chairwoman of the Long Hung Ward Women's Union, said the union has always regarded communication efforts, raising awareness, and equipping members and women with digital skills as a key task. In response to the Digital Literacy Campaign launched by the provincial Women's Union, the ward union selected the Sub-association of Neighborhood 5 to establish the ward’s first Digital Women's Club.

According to Hanh, most members participating in the club already possess basic digital knowledge and skills. Therefore, after its establishment, the club was assigned to guide members and local women in using online public services and making cashless payments and disseminate knowledge on cybersecurity and prevention of high-tech scams. In addition, the club supports women in starting businesses, conducting online sales, and promoting OCOP products on social media and e-commerce platforms. It also works to increase the sharing of verified, official information on social networks.

“In addition to expanding the Digital Women’s Club model, in the coming time, we plan to establish the Digital Sub-association model and the 1+1 Digital Instructor model in some other neighborhoods in the area,” Hanh said.

As the unit selected by the provincial Women's Union to pilot the Digital Family model, the Women's Union of Trang Dai Ward recently launched the model with 12 members in Ong Huong neighborhood. Nguyen Thi Thuy Van, Deputy Head of the neighborhood’s Digital Family model Executive Board, shared: Members participating in the model are required to have a solid understanding of digital knowledge and skills; actively promote and guide their family members and neighboring union households in using technology devices, digital applications, and engaging with community platforms, thereby contributing to improving public digital literacy.

Van added that she already knows how to use smartphones, social media, and digital applications. However, in the context of today’s rapid digital transformation, she feels that what she knows is still very limited. That’s why she is always eager to learn more, both online and from those around her.

Although not selected as a pilot, the Hung Phuoc commune WU is among the leading organizations in establishing the 1+1 Digital Instructor model, aimed at helping members and women gain quicker access to technology and learn how to use social media and online applications for learning, production, and business. Under this model, each official or member proficient in digital tools is responsible for guiding at least one other member in using and leveraging digital utilities to support daily life, work, and union activities.

Helping each other improve digital capacity

Not only gathering members and women with knowledge and skills in digital transformation, the models are also an environment for officials, members, and women to help each other improve digital capacity.

Taking advantage of the children’s nap time, teachers at Hoang Oanh 3 Kindergarten, Trang Dai ward, show each other some services and utilities on the VNeID application.

According to teacher Doan Thi My Thao, besides using social networks and cashless payments proficiently, she did not know anything else. Since the administrative unit arrangement and implementation of the 2-level local administration model, hearing many people say that some administrative procedures are no longer submitted directly but online, Thao also wanted to learn to serve herself, her family, and help people around when needed. “Through learning and exchanging with each other, I just found out that some simple administrative procedures such as: public services on residence, ID cards, justice… can now also be initially done on the VNeID application” - Thao said.

The provincial WU noted: 100% of sub-associations and groups in the area must ensure the annual target, each sub-association and group building at least one Digital Family model associated with implementing the 1+1 Digital Instructor model.

To enable officials, members, and women involved in digital models to effectively fulfill their roles in supporting and helping others improve digital capacity, the provincial Women's Union will organize activities to strengthen digital transformation capabilities and digital skills for its members. At the end of July, the provincial union held a training session on applying artificial intelligence (AI) in union work for key officials, sub-association leaders and deputy leaders, as well as members of the Public Opinion Collaborator Network. The program not only helped union officials better understand the benefits of AI but also guided using various tools to support union operations and women's movements.

The provincial Women's Union has also instructed grassroots union officials to actively participate in the local Community Digital Technology Teams and establish groups to share new knowledge and technologies with members and women. At the same time, they are to support members and women in effectively using smart devices, software, online public services, and electronic payment systems through direct, hands-on guidance. Digital skills training should be integrated into sub-association and group activities, with priority given to groups of members and women who are manual workers, the elderly, people with disabilities, the poor, ethnic minorities, and those living in rural, remote, and isolated areas.

By Nga Son – Translated by Minh Hanh, Minho