With the Digital Workforce Initiative, Life Giving Foundation seeks to promote ICT literate and competency among citizens living with hemophilia and disabilities so that they become an equipped digital workforce which can compete for suitable employment in the digital workspace. This will also empower them to engage in digital entrepreneurship which can help to alleviate employment challenges and poverty. Digital skills can also help participants who are already into various income generation activities such as baking, poultry, buying and selling where E-commerce, Financial, Project Management skills can enhance these activities. 

The Challenge

Hemophilia has a greater impact on employment as well as parents with minor children who are severe cases. They usually find it difficult to go to work full-time. Some end up voluntarily leaving their jobs due to induced frequent bleedings and pains or in order to take care of their hemophilia children. With the current unemployment rate in Zimbabwe, it is very challenging for hemophilia and the disabled people to compete and get a suitable job as well as performing daily hustles which demand a lot of physical activity that may put them at risk. Most people who are disabled and with rare chronic health conditions are mainly distributed at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. In Zimbabwe, the disabled usually are depended from the state under the Social Welfare Programme although it does not cover all.  On the other hand, such people are less likely to be employed or proceed with their education due to financial constraints, physical challenges and social exclusion.  

Collectively, the above highlighted problems are a proof that people living with disabilities and hemophilia still face difficulties in carrying their day to day work activities, despite the improvement of treatment strategies. It is very crucial to implement initiatives to equip them with competent skill to enhance their livelihoods. 

Project Goal 

The overall goal of the project is to promote ICT literate and competency among Zimbabwean citizens with bleeding disorders, cerebral palsy and related disabilities so that they become equipped digital workforce which can compete for a suitable employment that does not put them at risk as well as empowering them to engage in digital entrepreneurship and enhancing already existing livelihoods. 

Area of focus:  

• SDG 1 – No poverty
• SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities

 Objectives of the project proposal 

• To equip haemophilia patients and the disabled with hands-on business and digital skills to inculcate entrepreneurial mind-set which will transform them from being job seekers into job creators for the benefit of their families and communities
• To create suitable employment opportunities for the targeted group through proving digital/ICT competency which will help them to compete for light jobs which does not put them at risk.
• To provide the necessary tools and equipment which are needed to turn the skills gained into action.

Potential Benefits

The immediate benefit of the project will be the empowerment of hemophilia people especially those who are not employed, they will get employment opportunities as digital skilled workforce through acquiring relevant ICT skills and access to capacity which will empower them economically and socially. The gained skills can also promote the starting of entrepreneurship. With adequate tools, employed hemophilia patients can also engage in remote working thus limiting risk associated with going to work every day.