DOT | Digital Opportunity Trust

For 20 years, DOT has been working towards a vision where all underserved and disadvantaged young women and men realize their potential in an inclusive digital economy. An early adopter of ICT for Development as an international development construct, DOT has been equipping young women and men with the skills and networks to leverage technology and innovation to mobilize young people as digital change agents in their communities across Africa and the Middle East. 

Our projects focus on digital inclusion for women, young people, and other underserved communities for economic empowerment, livelihoods and resilient communities

Join us as we close out our 20th anniversary year celebrating the cumulative impact of the DOT model – 7,000 young people comprise a network of committed and sustained leaders of change who have reached over 3 million community members, changing lives and livelihoods, and our commitment to reaching an additional 1 million people in marginalized communities and schools of Africa and the Middle East by 2025.

Our continued commitment to place youth at the center of program design, and position them as leaders of local community transformation, makes DOT an excellent choice to support during the time of giving this year – #GivingTuesday. 

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving; founded in 2012 by the United Nations Foundation and other charitable organizations, it is recognized as day to give back, exercise generosity and support community-serving organizations. Taking place this year on November 29th, it is an opportunity to support DOT’s work to provide locally-relevant leadership, entrepreneurial, and 21st-century and digital skills for livelihoods and enable youth to give back themselves.

This year, your donation will support our continued success in mobilizing young people – #DOTYouth to become catalysts of change in their community – creating a ripple effect, where through sharing knowledge, building confidence, skills, and understanding with their peers, families, and communities at large, one youth creates a movement – a snowball effect – that continues to build and gain momentum leading impact at scale. 

There are several ways to participate in Giving Tuesday this year. And years to come.

1. Make a Donation to DOT 
2. Share this blog on Social media – Tag Us! @DigitalOppTrust
3. Reach out via contact@v1.dotrust.org to learn more about how you can support DOT this holiday season.

By donating to DOT, you support projects like DOT’s Entrepreneurship and Business Growth (EBG) project in Ethiopia. 

Over 9 years, EBG trained over 650 youth leaders to enable 90,000 youth (60% female) to pursue their entrepreneurship goals. Leaders were trained in gender-responsive entrepreneurship and empowerment, digital skills, with tailored coaching and linkages to business development services. EBG also featured rights-based empowerment programs to better support women’s agency and connect them to relevant resources. #DOTYouth in Ethiopia are strengthening the country’s youth and women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Moreover, DOT’s Youth Leadership Program promotes a cadre of gender equality change agents to support women’s empowerment, spotlighting young women as leaders and facilitators of change. 

Young women like, Liya Tadesse who joined DOT in 2017 after being unable to find a job. Through her 1 year internship with DOT, Liya acquired transferable skills such as communication, public speaking, leadership, and coaching that gave her an edge in the employment marketplace – as well as a passion for community transformation. 

Since DOT she has found a way to apply the skills developed with DOT and her passion for community development, in her role as Partnership Manager and Country Representative at an INGO that works with local farmers and entrepreneurs towards livelihood creation.