UNICEF’s Dr. Robin Nandy explains how FunDoo digital life coach works

Last year, UNICEF Uganda launched the FunDoo – digital life coach, tell us about it?

‘FunDoo’ is a digital life coach by UNICEF Uganda, accessed through WhatsApp and Text. It equips young people with 21st century and employability skills, while preparing them for their future.

FunDoo provides a range of information, from career development and mental health to climate change, gender-based violence, vaccine uptake, communication skills and much more, and prepares young people to seize opportunities and confront challenges in a rapidly changing world, make informed decisions, become responsible citizens, and achieve their full potential.

 How does a young person get access to ‘FunDoo’ content?

All ‘’FunDoo’ content is free and young people can access it by simply Texting ‘FunDoo’ to SMS 8500 or WhatsApp 0709 168 500 and tap into a world of greater skilling possibilities, using a digital life coach.

Since its launch, we have voluntarily registered over 30,000 users onto the FunDoo platform in Uganda alone and are currently aiming at recruiting at least 1 Million users to create an impactful skilling change amongst Uganda’s young people.

This Thursday – 31^st October 2024 starting 7pm, an Xspace focusing on how to ‘Become Employable’ will host a speaker Rogers Golooba, Senior Probation and Welfare Officer, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development via the Link: https://x.com/UReportUganda/status/1851463536561516847 . All youth are called upon to log in and learn more about how to garner employability skills.

What makes the ‘FunDoo’ digital life coach unique?

Experiential learning. ‘FunDoo’ gives the learners content through experiential learning, where they choose the skills they want, and embark on an engaging and fun learning experience.

Bite-sized modules. ‘FunDoo’ content is divided into learning modules or ‘tasks’ which take 30-45 minutes to complete and have a specific learning outcome. The platform also has an organized, modular library of tasks that learners can choose from and in the order they prefer.

Self-paced. ‘FunDoo’ gives learners the flexibility to complete tasks at their own pace wherever they are.

With the high cost of internet in Uganda, how is FunDoo planning on remaining relevant amongst the young people?

Due to its chat-based medium, ‘FunDoo’ provides access to learning with low internet connectivity, making it accessible to all young people, including those who are hardest to reach.

For learners in areas that don’t have internet access, we encourage them to use the SMS based version of ‘FunDoo’ which equally offers free skills for young people.

How is ‘FunDoo’ ensuring that the data of our young people is protected?

‘FunDoo’ promotes responsible collection and management of data from young people. The platform gathers very limited personal information and keeps the data private and secure.

At UNICEF Uganda, we are also working very closely with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to deliver relevant skilling and protection to our young people.

 Do learners get certified by ‘FunDoo’ once they complete modules?

Yes, once a task is completed, young people can get automated certificates and giveaways in the form of skills badges and learner boards where they can track their ‘FunDoo’ learning journeys. Workshops and webinars are organized to incentivize highly engaged users.