The Power of Women, Media Skills & Innovation in Transforming Communities

As we closed out March, a month that celebrated International Women’s Day and the resilience of communities worldwide, we at #ASKnet reflected on the incredible impact of local knowledge-sharing, digital empowerment, and women-led initiatives in refugee settlements like Rhino Camp, Uganda, and across South Sudan.

The Strength of Communities in Displacement and Refugee settlements are often portrayed as places of scarcity—but they are also spaces of innovation, solidarity, and untapped potential. We believe that communities hold the key to their own development. Through peer-to-peer learning, digital skills training, and open knowledge exchange, displaced individuals are not just recipients of aid but active creators of solutions.

In Rhino Camp, our member hub, Community Creativity for Development (CC4D) community trainers have facilitated digital literacy workshops, enabling refugees to access online opportunities, connect with loved ones, and even start small businesses. Platfrom Africa through the innovative and brilliant use of the #ASKmobile has spread knowledge on media skills, podcasting, and sustainability in the far flung corners of Uganda’s landscape.

Kiryadongo Video Advocates (KVA) pioneers the use of media to drive social change in Uganda’s refugee communities. Through film screenings, training and advocacy.

In South Sudan, local facilitators trained through #ASKnet have become beacons of knowledge, teaching everything from basic IT skills to sustainable textile management. Through innovative collaborative projects within the network and training sessions that emphasise the value of inclusivity in community development, GoGirls ICT Initiative champions the teaching of technical skills and exposure to opportunities for young girls in South Sudan, Koneta Hub , through collaborative activities with other member hubs has become a beacon for the entrepreneurial spirit of the youth and the intersection between media, digital literacy, and community impact.

Women: The Backbone of Refugee Communities

This past month, we were inspired by the stories of women and girls in our networks who are breaking barriers. On International Women’s Day, we highlighted female trainers and learners in refugee settlements and how they are:

- Leading digital skills training sessions, proving that tech is for everyone and can be leveraged for the good of our communities.

- Mentoring young girls in coding and multimedia, opening doors to future careers.

- Starting community projects, from solar-powered charging stations to women-led co-ops that boost local economies.

One exemplary star is Dawa Edina, a lead trainer at Community Creativity for Development (CC4D) in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, who, after learning digital skills through #ASKnet, now helps other women learn crucial and life changing skills in e-repair and sustainability. Her story is a testament to how access to knowledge can spark economic independence.

Why does this Matter?

In places where resources are limited, community-driven education and women’s leadership are not just beneficial—they are essential. When women thrive, entire communities benefit:

✅ Children are more likely to stay in school

✅ Local economies grow

✅ Innovation flourishes

Join the Movement

As #ASKnet, we’re committed to amplifying local voices, providing training on media skills and open source standards to communities, and ensuring that host and refugee communities have the tools, skills, and platforms to shape their futures. Here’s how you can support:

Follow us on LinkedIn and follow our work on Facebook and share stories of resilience and community transformation.

Advocate for refugee-led education access and media initiatives.

Donate or partner with a member organisation and the network to help us expand digital access in underserved regions.

As we move audaciously into April, let’s continue celebrating the power of communities and the women who drive change—because when knowledge is shared, everyone rises together.

#ASKnet is proudly supported by r0g_agency in this quest to transform communities positively and inspire long lasting change through the power of technology, mentorship, and sustainability.