Technology Villages in Gilgit-Baltistan

 

    Emerging skills like e-commerce, freelancing, digital marketing and the concept of shared working spaces are growing trends across the developing world providing livelihood to millions of young populations in developing countries.

    The bulging young population in GB, with increased literacy rate particularly among young women and access to Internet is one such potential, which can not only create job and income opportunity but can put this area into new trajectory of growth. In GB there are already successful examples of local young digital-entrepreneurs created hundreds of jobs for young women and men. Building on the local initiatives and learning from global trends, the youth of GB, If equipped with the right skills, and enabling environment, can soon enter into the global digital ecosystem.

    With the aim to facilitate safe and secure working environment for existing and aspiring digital workers, entrepreneurs and start-ups in GB, KADO, A community-based organisation from Hunza, started an initiative in 2019 with the name of “Tech Villages by KADO”. As part of this initiative, KADO, equipped existing Community-owned spaces into IT Hubs to be used for training of future skills in IT. The purpose made IT - Hubs are being used as Co-working spaces for the trained young males and females from the respective villages to earn a livelihood through digital platforms such as E-Commerce, Upwork, and other online platforms sitting at their doorsteps. A portion of the income generated through these spaces go to the community organization to sustain the operations of the space. Over a period of 06 months, 08 Tech Villages have been established across Hunza and Nagar District. More than 350 young males and females have been trained and have started their online career sitting at their door steps. Owing to the success of this initiative, The Ministry of IT, GB, plans to replicate this model across other villages of Gilgit-Baltistan. The initiative will support local village-based organizations and Tech-based start-ups to setup Tech Villages inside their villages.

    To increase employment prospects for 2500 educated youth in Gilgit-Baltistan every year at their doorsteps, by providing grants or Soft Loans to Tech-based start-ups and village based organizations for setting up fit-for-purpose co-working spaces across 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. These spaces will be utilized for training the youth of the respective districts in emerging digital skills and connecting them with online job platforms with the help of high-speed internet coupled with safe and secure working environment.

Comments