Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) was launched in 2001 to support young people in becoming innovators and leaders, and to help them create and apply transformative digital solutions to better their own communities. The organization is youth-led and works in partnership with the private sector, governments and community-based organizations. Globally, its network of six thousand young people has created opportunities for one million people across twenty-five countries. 

DOT’s Rwandan branch opened in 2010, and its local focus is on job creation and gender equality. DOT Rwanda programs have reached more than eight hundred young people, who have in turn trained more than 100,000 community members. More than 50 percent of its participants are young women. Country director Violette Uwamutara says, “We are incubating young people for them to become leaders and digital and social innovators.”

The organization runs a number of programs that advance youth and promote women’s empowerment and gender equality. Its flagship offering is the DOT Youth Leadership Program, which encourages young people to develop digital solutions to societal challenges. The program has three aspects. First, it teaches participants competency in digital skills and innovation. Supported by mentors, young people develop the confidence and practical knowledge needed for entrepreneurship. Then, participants use community engagement to better understand local issues and challenges. The third aspect is the social innovation journey, in which DOT provides young people with the social innovation skills needed to develop an MVP for launch to market. The program also helps connect participants with potential investors and mentors. Graduates are encouraged to share their new skills by offering digital and innovation training to their communities, creating a grassroots network of skilled young people.

Fit the criteria.
Applicants must be recent university graduates aged eighteen to twenty-nine who are unemployed or underemployed.

Commit to your community.
You need to be committed to work in the location where you are admitted to the program for at least one year.

Show passion.
Our young people are passionate about community impact and women’s development.

Be creative.
You will be required to come up with innovative digital solutions to community challenges.

Adopt a new way of learning.
You need to be versatile and willing to learn through a combination of digital and face-to-face lessons.

rwanda@dotrust.org

Main Photo by: DOT Rwanda