Dozens of youth in Namibia have benefited from a gamified learning initiative that has equipped them with the skills and knowledge to safely navigate the digital world. This follows the deployment of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Board Learning Experience (DRIBLE), an initiative by Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a Pan-African non-profit. The move marks the latest stop in PIN’s African tour, bringing together students and young people to explore digital rights and online safety.

DRIBLE, developed by Paradigm Initiative with support from the Open Society Foundations, offers a fun, accessible entry point into digital rights and inclusion conversations through a custom-designed board game. The Namibia launch follows successful pilots at the University of Lagos in Nigeria, the Dakar American University of Science and Technology (DAUST) in Senegal, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, and the University of Zambia in Lusaka. PIN’s vision is to reach 20 million people through the organisation’s digital inclusion and digital rights intervention.

Speaking at the event, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, emphasised the transformative potential of DRIBLE and encouraged students to be bold, follow their passions, and build their skillsets within the technology sphere.

“You are digital natives. So the question for you is, ‘what are the skills I need to pick up and invest in now?’ You must build the relevant skills that will make you stand out.”

In her welcoming remarks, Nashilongo Gervasius Nakale of NamTshuwe Digital Hub, the implementing partner and organiser in Namibia, encouraged the young participants to fully seize the opportunity to deepen their understanding of digital rights and digital inclusion. Recognising that many aspire to careers in technology-related fields, she urged them to look beyond the functional “use” of technology and to critically engage with its broader societal implications.

She emphasised the importance of cultivating an informed and empathetic perspective on the multiple ways in which technology intersects with human rights, equity and social development. In doing so, she called on the youth to develop a nuanced appreciation of both the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany digital innovation, and to position themselves as future technology leaders who are grounded in ethical awareness and inclusive values.

Mr Edward Nepolo, the Head of Department of Computer Science at the National University of Science and Technology, in his keynote address, affirmed: “Africa is not a promise for the future anymore, it is a force to be reckoned with now. We should not be comfortable being consumers of technology; we should take our space and play our part in the development and shaping of technology.”

Since its founding in 2007 in Lagos, Paradigm Initiative has expanded across six African countries: Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, impacting over 150,000 young Africans. DRIBLE builds on PIN’s ongoing work addressing digital exclusion, complementing initiatives such as Ripoti, a digital rights reporting platform, and Ayeta, a digital security toolkit for activists and vulnerable groups.

The DRIBLE launch in Namibia marks a key milestone in the organisation’s mission to equip African youth with the knowledge, skills, and tools to thrive safely in the digital age, ensuring their voices and rights are central to the continent’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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