In today’s world, digital literacy is no longer optional — it is essential for education, employment, and participation in society. Yet in Matero, one of Lusaka’s largest and poorest compounds, most families have no access to computers, the internet, or formal digital education. Children fall behind in school where technology is increasingly integrated, and women are excluded from opportunities that require basic computer skills.

Without intervention, the digital divide widens existing inequalities, leaving already vulnerable communities even further behind.

In 2024, Power of Love launched Matero’s first community computer lab, a dream long held by families in the community. The lab provides free after-school classes for children and training sessions for women. Activities include:

• Digital literacy for children: typing, navigating software applications, safe internet use, and academic support.
• Entrepreneurship support for women: using digital tools for small businesses, financial literacy, and basic online communication.
• Peer-to-peer learning: advanced students help teach others, multiplying the impact and creating a culture of shared learning.

The lab is a community-owned resource, integrated into the Circle of Care alongside HIV care, maternal health, mental health, and microloans.

As we celebrate the first anniversary of the lab in September 2025, the computer lab has become one of the most sought-after community resources:

• Over 200 children have attended sessions, with a waitlist forming quickly.
• Students are gaining confidence in digital skills, with some children beginning to teach their peers.
• Parents report improved school performance as children use digital tools for assignments and research.
• Women attending sessions express greater confidence in managing finances and seeking opportunities.

The excitement around the lab demonstrates the hunger for knowledge and the transformational potential of digital access in slum communities.

The labs are more than classrooms — they are gateways to opportunity. By providing digital access, POL:

• Levels the playing field for children competing in schools where computer skills matter.
• Opens pathways for women to start or expand microenterprises using technology.
• Connects families to health and education resources increasingly available online.
• Builds community pride as Matero positions itself at the forefront of digital innovation in Zambia’s slums.

We are only at the beginning. POL plans to:

• Expand the Matero lab to accommodate more children and reduce the waitlist.
• Establish additional labs in other Lusaka compounds and eventually in India, under the Future Spark banner.
• Partner with schools, tech organizations, and donors to provide equipment, software, and training curricula.
• Track outcomes such as school performance, digital confidence, and employment opportunities to measure long-term impact.

The computer lab succeeds because it combines:

• Proven demand: families are eager for digital education.
• Trusted delivery: POL integrates digital skills into its Circle of Care, alongside health and livelihood programs.
• Peer-led learning: children and women teach each other, multiplying impact.
• Community ownership: the lab is seen as a shared asset, not an external project.

In Matero, the lab is already changing lives. In the future, we envision a network of community computer labs across slums in Africa and Asia - bridging the digital divide, unlocking opportunity, and preparing the next generation for a digital world.

Testimonials from POL Microloan recepients