Since 2015, the ReDI School of Digital Integration has been offering digital education courses for migrants and disadvantaged locals. Digital education is fundamental for a functioning democracy. Takuya Furukawa experienced this firsthand when he moved to Germany about ten years ago. The ReDI School provides an entry point into a network, foundational knowledge, and suitable further training. At the same time, it serves as a pathway to inclusion in a new society, which Takuya could have greatly benefited from back then. Therefore, he is even happier to be able to help others with his work now.
The team at the ReDI School of Digital Integration knows how important digital skills are. Statistics show that 40 percent of all EU citizens lack many digital competencies. However, these are crucial for jobs and administration. Additionally, they facilitate access to democracy and participation in society. That’s why the ReDI School imparts IT knowledge and has already trained over 40,000 people. Many of the participants have experience with flight or migration and can greatly benefit from this support.
The focus of the courses and programs is on three themes. Participants with prior knowledge utilize the upskilling offered in the tech sector. This includes advanced knowledge and skills in programming and data analytics, for example. Those who are not yet at that level can start with the digital fundamentals training for beginners. The experts at the ReDI School of Digital Integration have also developed a tech program for children and teenagers. This includes programming exercises, learning media skills, and cybersecurity.
The knowledge is imparted by industry experts. These volunteer trainers support the ReDI School with their know-how directly from the business world. Through this collaboration, both the companies and the future professionals benefit. Internships and mentoring programs for ReDI students allow for close one-on-one support. As Takuya Furukawa knows, this has already led to several success stories. The Local Head for the ReDI School locations in NRW and Hamburg is working with his colleagues to make IT basic training freely accessible to everyone. Without digital competencies, it is no longer possible, and they “don’t want to leave anyone behind,” says Takuya Furukawa.
