Digital Inclusion
Digital Leverage - Co-Designing Digital Inclusion
for Ethnic Communities Project
Digital Inclusion Research & Community Programme
We started a research project to better understand the needs, challenges, and barriers to digital inclusion for ethnic communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
What the Research Involves
Our research includes:
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A literature review of existing digital inclusion insights
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Mapping of current services and resources available to communities
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Interviews with key sector partners
In the next phase, we will conduct interviews and focus groups with ethnic community members across the motu (country) to:
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Hear directly from communities
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Identify practical, community-led solutions
We want to hear from you and your community. This is your chance to share your experiences and help us identify meaningful solutions for digital inclusion.
This foundation will help us design solutions that are practical, inclusive, and community-led.
Co-Designing With Communities
This project will be developed in co-design with a Digital Inclusion Co-Design Working Group - made up of community members from refugee and migrant backgrounds. This ensures genuine participation in:
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Designing the programme
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Delivering solutions
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Evaluating outcomes
Implementation & Community Support
Following the research phase, we will implement practical activities in collaboration with partner organisations in the digital and technical sectors.
This includes:
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Creating safe learning environments to ensure the wellbeing of participants
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Offering digital skills training for people of all ages and abilities, including:
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Using mobile phones, laptops, internet, and apps
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Accessing and evaluating online information
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Troubleshooting and problem-solving
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Who Is this Project For?
The programme will be open to ethnic community members of all ages and abilities who wish to:
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Upskill in digital and technical areas
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Build confidence in using technology (e.g. mobile phones, laptops, internet, apps)
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Learn to access online information and troubleshoot issues independently
In addition to training, we will also mentor and upskill community members to become local digital support providers within their own communities.
📩 Interested in participating?
Please contact the HOST team – we’d love to hear from you.
Watch this space!
Our 'What'
Research to identify concrete examples of digital exclusion and possible solutions.
Co-design of practical solutions with a Digital Inclusion Co-Design Working Group with members from migrant and former refugee communities.
Develop a training programme to help you and your community members learn new digital skills.
Deliver trainings and workshops in different parts of the country.
Provide mentoring to support individual upskilling for future work opportunities and/or careers in the technology field.
Our 'Why'
(Theory of Change)
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Individual wellbeing: To strengthen individual wellbeing by reducing harm and increasing trust and safety in a digital world.
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Community inclusion: To build capacity for digital inclusion that result in better social, community and civic participation.
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Addressing structural barriers: To reduce or eliminate structural barriers to digital inclusion for equitable educational and economic outcomes.
Our Project Model
We want to get from this:
The challenges of the digital divide:
Affordability
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Lack of appropriate digital devices
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Limited internet connectivity
Ability
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Gaps in digital literacy
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Language barriers
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Digital skills and access
Access
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Lack of trust
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Lack of access to information
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Misinformation
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Online safety risks
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Lack of participation
To this:
Our goal:
To narrow the digital divide and enhance digital inclusion for former refugees and migrants from ethnic backgrounds to
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Enable safer access to online information.
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Increase access to employment and education opportunities
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Facilitate civic participation.
Through co-designed, culturally responsive activities, participants will build digital skills and confidence aligned to their baseline needs from essential digital literacy to advanced skills needed for employment and community leadership.
In partnership with a Digital Inclusion Co-Design Working Group, HOST will develop suitable, culturally safe and sustainable solutions to breaking down barriers of accessibility, affordability and ability to digital inclusion for ethnic communities.
Background
In Aotearoa New Zealand, we live in a society where information and services are more and more accessible online only. This creates barriers for many people to participate fully in society as they may struggle to access information or services and be excluded from acting on their rights and responsibilities in their daily lives.
Some people face multiple barriers such as socioeconomic or geographical factors, cultural bias, low literacy levels, demographic changes, and lack of accessibility, amplifying the effects of not being digitally included).
This is particularly the case for former refugee and migrant background ethnic communities, highlighted particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where many ethnic communities were disadvantaged in accessing services, undertaking transactions online as well as continuing to engage socially due to to the lack of technology or skills, internet connectivity, and language barriers.
Digital exclusion is further intensified for newcomers to Aotearoa New Zealand as it:
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Limits their access to valuable information either in English or their own languages;
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Prevents them from learning about and better understanding the new country they now live in;
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Excludes them from participating and meaningfully contributing to society;
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Makes them feel more isolated and less connected socially and in the wider community.
Women are often further marginalised due to gender, religion, etc. and are missing out on access to critical information.
Misinformation is on the rise as community members find it difficult to verify information online and instead rely on ‘word of mouth’ information through their local community. Online security risks add to their vulnerability as community members don’t feel equipped, have the technical or language skills to stay safe online.
Parents should be able to understand online safety so they can support and monitor their children’s access to the internet to ensure their safety and wellbeing. Digital inclusion creates a platform for parents to relate to their children's education needs by knowing what their school projects are about and being able to help provide safe internet access.