When schools go digital, forests stay standing.
The Ndi Umudigitale (Be Digital) initiative bridges technology and conservation — reducing paper waste in schools while equipping rural youth with digital skills for the future.
The Problem
Paper production is one of the largest drivers of deforestation globally. In Rwanda, rural schools rely almost entirely on printed materials — exercise books, worksheets, exam papers — consuming resources from an already-shrinking forest cover.
At the same time, rural youth are being left behind in the digital economy. Without access to technology or digital literacy training, they face limited opportunities in an increasingly connected world. The Ndi Umudigitale program addresses both problems simultaneously.
How We Work
Four program components that connect digital literacy to environmental stewardship.
Digital Classroom Setup
Equipping rural schools with tablets and devices that replace paper-based learning. Each classroom setup eliminates thousands of printed pages annually while opening access to global educational resources.
Teacher Digital Training
Intensive workshops that equip educators with the skills to create digital lesson plans, manage e-learning platforms, and integrate technology into their teaching without relying on printed materials.
E-Learning Content
Digitized curriculum developed in partnership with local educators — covering environmental science, mathematics, and language arts in formats accessible on tablets and smartphones.
Youth Tech Mentorship
Connecting rural youth to digital opportunities through mentorship programs that teach coding basics, data collection for environmental monitoring, and digital storytelling for conservation advocacy.
What Makes This Different
Conservation
Every digital classroom reduces paper consumption, directly protecting Rwandan forests.
Opportunity
Youth gain marketable digital skills that open doors beyond their rural communities.
Integration
Students use technology for environmental data collection, connecting digital skills to conservation action.
“Before this program, I had never touched a tablet. Now I use one to track the trees we planted at school and share the data with our whole community.”— Emmanuel, age 14, Kayonza District