Teaching Digital Skills and SDGs to Primary School Students in Rural China

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It is on the ground in 177 countries, working on solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP China assists China in developing its own solutions to the country’s development challenges and works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by reducing poverty, strengthening the rule of law and democratic governance, and by promoting environmental sustainability and South-South Cooperation.

Context

In this era of rapid technological advancement, our daily lives are continuously shaped by innovative technologies. From artificial intelligence to digital transformation across various fields, these developments subtly drive social progress—a progress deeply tied to enhancing the digital and scientific literacy of individuals. Therefore, we must start with education to cultivate curiosity, digital thinking, and a passion for science in the next generation of youth. Education is at the heart of the United Nations’ work, and ensuring accessible, equitable, and high-quality education is the key to realizing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In China, rural education has always played a fundamental and pioneering role. Developing STEM and digital education enhances students’ comprehensive qualities and contributes to the equitable development of education overall, particularly for marginalized groups in rural areas. In July 2023, the “HER Digital Future Bootcamp” was initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China and hosted by One Kilogram Box. Since its launch, it has attracted the active participation of hundreds of volunteer teams, leading and supporting adolescent girls in rural areas to embark on their technological dreams right at their doorsteps. Building on this momentum, this year we aim to engage 40 volunteer teams, supporting a total of 200-300 volunteers, to deliver digital literacy and SDGs-focused classes to 480 adolescent girls in rural primary schools. Utilizing a comprehensive activity toolkit, volunteer teams will support organize 5-7 day “HER Digital Future Bootcamp” summer creation camps. These camps are specifically designed to enhance the campers’ cooperative learning skills, foster their awareness of rural community issues, and empower them to propose practical solutions using digital thinking in alignment with the SDGs.

Task Description

In 2026, we aim to engage 40 volunteer teams, comprising a total of 200-300 volunteers (averaging 6 to 7 volunteers per camp), to deliver digital literacy and SDG-focused classes to 480 adolescent girls in rural primary schools. Utilizing a comprehensive activity toolkit, these teams will organize the 5-7 day “HER Digital Future Bootcamp” and relavant online activities before, during and after the bootcamp. The core focus of these camps is to enhance the campers’ cooperative learning skills, foster their awareness of rural community issues, and empower them to propose practical, SDG-aligned solutions utilizing digital thinking. The applicants should apply for this initiative as a volunteer team, rather than individuals. As part of the selection process, applicant teams are being contacted via WeChat and telephone and a one-week interview and screening process will be conducted. Online volunteers will be responsible for the following tasks: - Interview Participation and Assessment: after application, the candidate should be able to participate in online interviews organised by project staff, as a volunteer team (one team leader with 5-6 members) to be assessed for eligibility and capacity to join the initiative. - Training of Trainers (ToT) Engagement: once selected, watch three online training videos and attend two online training sessions to better understand the usage of the activity toolkit, as well as volunteer roles and responsibilities beforehand to better support the initiative. - Camp Design and Implementation: after ToT training, work collaboratively within each volunteer team to design and support implementing a 5–7 day plan for camp activities, integrating the provided teaching resources, to form 2-3 online training proposals and execute the proposal approved by the project staff during the camp. - Feedback and Questionnaire Submission: during the camp, collect real-time activity stories and photos of the events documented from the project staff or captured online, and support in coordinating all participants to complete a feedback questionnaire upon conclusion of the camp. - Innovation Proposals Submission Support (as deliverables): after the camp, guide the rural girl participants in designing and submitting at least three innovation proposals after their successful completion of the camp learning.

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks