Digi launches ‘Empower Societies’ initiative

  • Catch-all term for various community programmes to foster digital inclusivity
  • Sixth edition of Digi Challenge for Change contest also kicks off
Digi launches ‘Empower Societies’ initiative

DIGI Telecommunications Sdn Bhd has launched Digi Empower Societies, a catch-all initiative which combines its various community programmes that it said would help build strong digital communities that can participate, navigate and thrive in the Internet economy.
 
Digi Empower Societies would enable different community groups, women, youth, children and the underprivileged, and netizens in general both urban and rural, to enjoy the benefits of being connected, the company said in a statement.
 
It comprises:

  • Digi Challenge for Change: Where it partners social change makers to enable Internet solutions that create sustainable, inclusive socio-economic impact for communities;
  • Digi CyberSAFE: Its programme to nurture a safer Internet by building digital resilience and fostering responsible digital citizenship among Malaysian children;
  • Kg Internet For All (IFA): Enabling connectivity, and easy ownership of smart devices for rural and remote communities;
  • Digi Internet For All Women: To promote greater usage of the Internet to inspire and empower women in Malaysia;
  • Digi WWWOW Awards: Recognising Malaysians who use the Internet for good to increase online creativity and entrepreneurism in the country;
  • Telenor Youth Forum: A global platform for young opinion leaders to connect and share digital communication innovations that are transforming societies; and
  • Digital Winners: Brings together leaders and innovators in media, technology and communications to share insights on innovation and digital business opportunities.

“Our ability to innovate and use the Internet as a catalyst to create positive social change and improve businesses can help spur growth of the digital economy, which in turn results in widespread impact on the whole economy,” said Malaysia’s Minister of Communications and Multimedia Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
 
“This can only happen with pervasive access to the Internet – ensuring connectivity for the unconnected and amplifying use by savvy netizens,” he said at the launch of Digi Empower Societies.
 
Sixth edition of Challenge for Change
 
Digi Challenge for Change kicked off with a new focus to engage Malaysian social purpose organisations (SPOs) and solution providers (SPs) to come up with a holistic approach to address a common community issue in Malaysia.
 
This year’s programme is part of the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) Social Public-Private Partnership initiative led by Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) in collaboration with the Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS), and endorsed by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, Digi said in its statement.
 
It will centre on the development of Internet-enabled solutions for sustainable community impact.
 
Digi launches ‘Empower Societies’ initiative“Through this challenge, we aim to cultivate a culture of continuous innovation whereby ideas are taken through from creation to adoption to ensure meaningful societal impact,” said Digi chief executive officer Albern Murty (pic).
 
Digi Challenge for Change is open to all Malaysian SPO non-governmental organisations (NGOs), nonprofit organisations (NPOs) and social enterprises.
 
The programme spans a year and is made up of three phases, starting with Malaysian SPOs identifying social issues of a target community.
 
Three shortlisted SPOs would then paired with SPs to form Social Purpose Groups, develop scalable and sustainable solutions using Internet-enabled technology, and piloted in one community.
 
The winning Social Purpose Group will finally be required to further scale the initiative to other adjacent communities where appropriate.
 
The winning Social Purpose Group will take home an incubation package including a matching grant of RM250,000 (US$66,620) from Digi and AIM, and the opportunity to be guided and mentored by the programme partners.
 
For more information on Empower Societies, please visit http://www.digi.com.my/empower and to find out more about Digi Challenge for Change 6, please visit www.digicfc.my.
 
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