BALI – Today, at its Impact Forum, the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme (DLP), a collaboration between the ASEAN Foundation and Google.org, unveiled its e-learning platform, DigitalClassASEAN.org.
The platform, part of the ASEAN DLP’s commitment to promoting digital literacy throughout the region, emphasizes inclusivity and accessibility by providing essential tools that support individuals with disabilities on their learning journeys.
The ASEAN DLP Impact Forum was held in Bali from 14 to 16 November 2023, coinciding with Global Media and Information Literacy Week. Its theme was “Navigating Digital Resilience: Empowering ASEAN Communities through Digital Literacy.”
The text highlighted the achievements and impact of a two-year program in ten ASEAN member states, including Singapore. It brought together local partners and stakeholders, along with representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Foundation, and Google.org, to discuss various important topics related to digital literacy.
The forum aimed to increase awareness of digital literacy, enhance collaboration among stakeholders, and provide participants with essential tools and strategies to promote digital inclusion and tackle digital challenges in the ASEAN region.
Over a span of two years, the ASEAN Digital Literacy Program (DLP), in collaboration with 15 local implementing organizations, conducted 61 Training of Trainers sessions that trained 1,451 Master Trainers across the region. As a result, the program successfully reached 193,955 individuals through 2,647 digital literacy workshops, far surpassing its initial goal of impacting 100,000 people within the two-year timeframe.
The ASEAN Youth Advisory Group (YAG), which operates under the ASEAN Digital Literacy Program (DLP) and includes youth representatives from ten ASEAN countries, has conducted 12 impactful digital literacy campaigns both online and in-person throughout the region. These efforts have directly benefited 3,881 individuals and achieved a total social media reach of over 930,000 people.
Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, Dr Piti Srisangnam, said, “We are delighted with the inroads we have made in Singapore through DoubleCheck, our campaign with ASEAN Youth Advisory Group (YAG), to educate pre-teens and teens. Over the past two years, the work through our implementation partner, Bamboo Builders, has also empowered a new generation of Master Trainers to train new communities and future agents of change.”
“The achievement of ASEAN DLP is a collective accomplishment involving the active participation and dedication of all stakeholders. Having a shared purpose of creating a safer digital space has brought us one step closer to the vision of developing a digitally inclusive Southeast Asia,” he adds.
In Singapore, the programme has trained 50 Master Trainers and 3,098 participants, working alongside Bamboo Builders as a local implementing partner to record significant awareness and active participation among Singaporean youth in the fight against misinformation and disinformation.
Founder of Bamboo Builders Gabriel Tan said, “We are proud to be part of ASEAN DLP in building safer digital spaces. In just a few months, we have trained more than 2,500 beneficiaries, including in-mates from Singapore prison, persons with disabilities, domestic and migrant workers, with digital literacy skills. They will be the agents of change, amplifying digital literacy awareness in their community.”
Along with capacity building, the DoubleCheck campaign aimed to enhance digital literacy among tweens and teens on misinformation and disinformation using a fun edutainment approach. It was spearheaded by Singaporean ASEAN YAG members, Joanne Tan and Esther David.
Lead for Google.org APAC, Marija Ralic said, “The ASEAN Foundation’s Digital Literacy Programme has achieved remarkable results and also touched lives, sparking positive change across Southeast Asia. The commitment, dedication, and passion demonstrated by all participants, trainers, and organisations is truly inspiring and we are proud to support this initiative through Google.org. As we continue on our journey toward a safer internet, let us draw inspiration from these stories of transformation and empowerment.”
Google.org is supporting the ASEAN Foundation with a US$1.5 million grant to aid the implementation of the ASEAN DLP from 2022 to 2024.
Meanwhile the platform DigitalClassASEAN.org, which was unveiled at the forum, has five core modules covering key aspects of digital literacy -digital citizenship, media, and information literacy, addressing misinformation and disinformation, promoting positive online behaviour, as well as tackling special topics like social media etiquette, digital parenting, and online scam prevention.
The launch of the e-learning digital literacy platform, Digital Class ASEAN, took place at the ASEAN DLP Impact Forum in Bali, Indonesia, on November 14.
These modules were developed through collaboration between the ASEAN Foundation and the Break the Fake Movement, a fact-checking organisation based in the Philippines. They are available in eight ASEAN local languages: Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Tagalog, Thai, Lao, Burmese, and Vietnamese. Upon completing all modules, learners will receive a downloadable certificate of achievement.
ASEAN DLP’s mission in combating misinformation and disinformation through digital literacy is in alignment with UNESCO’s theme for this year’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week, “Media and Information Literacy in Digital Spaces: A Collective Global Agenda.”
