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Since its launch in Rwanda, the Digitruck programme has been expanding access to digital skills training for communities that are often left behind by traditional infrastructure. Between August 2025 and March 2026, the initiative trained 1,119 people across five provinces, with women and girls accounting for 49.2% of all participants.

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At the heart of the programme is a simple but powerful idea: if communities cannot reach digital learning opportunities, digital learning should reach them.

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Through a partnership between Close the Gap and Huawei Rwanda under Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative, the Digitruck is helping bridge Rwanda's digital divide by delivering free digital skills training directly to schools and underserved communities. The initiative supports Rwanda's broader ambition to build an inclusive digital economy while ensuring that no community is excluded from the opportunities created by technology.

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‍A Classroom on Wheels

Designed and manufactured by Close the Gap, the Digitruck is a refurbished shipping container transformed into a fully equipped mobile digital classroom. Powered by solar energy and connected through wireless broadband, the unit is fitted with laptops, digital learning tools, and an interactive smart screen.

The mobile classroom is specifically designed to operate in areas where access to electricity, internet connectivity, and digital infrastructure remains limited. Rather than waiting for permanent facilities to be established, the Digitruck brings training directly to the communities that need it most.

Between January and March 2026, the truck ran training at eleven sites, from Rusizi in the west to Bugesera in the east, providing digital learning opportunities to primary school students and community members.

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Digital Skills for Everyday Life

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The training curriculum was developed in collaboration with Rwanda's Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Ministry of Education, and Solektra Rwanda. The programme combines foundational digital literacy with practical skills that participants can immediately apply in their daily lives.

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Participants learn how to identify computer components, manage digital files, create documents using Microsoft Word, prepare presentations, and work with spreadsheets in Excel. They are also introduced to online communication tools, email management, and responsible digital citizenship, with online safety integrated throughout the training experience.

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Creating impact every day

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A key component of the programme is its focus on practical relevance. Participants are trained to navigate Irembo, Rwanda's national e-government platform, enabling them to access public services related to education, agriculture, land administration, and the EjoHeza long-term savings scheme. By connecting digital skills directly to services people already use, the programme ensures that learning quickly translates into real-world value.

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Partnerships Driving Digital Inclusion

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The success of the Digitruck programme is built on collaboration.

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Huawei Rwanda provides sponsorship and programme support through its TECH4ALL digital inclusion initiative. Solektra Rwanda oversees training delivery and day-to-day operations, while Rwanda's Ministry of ICT and Innovation facilitates implementation and engagement with local communities. The Ministry of Education supports curriculum quality assurance and helps ensure that training standards remain aligned with national education priorities.

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This multi-stakeholder approach enables the programme to maintain quality, accountability, and long-term impact while reaching communities across the country. The initiative also contributes to Rwanda's national efforts to expand digital literacy and create greater opportunities for young people, women, and underserved populations.

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A program built on trusted partnerships

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Beyond the Training

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While the Digitruck eventually moves on to its next destination, the knowledge it leaves behind continues to create value.

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Participants gain practical digital skills, confidence in using technology, and the ability to access information, services, and opportunities online. For many young people and women, these skills can open pathways to further education, entrepreneurship, employment, and lifelong learning.

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In communities where digital training opportunities remain scarce, this foundation can be transformative. Every stop on the Digitruck's journey helps create a more connected, digitally empowered future.

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The Digitruck's impact extends far beyond Rwanda. Across Africa, Close the Gap continues to deploy mobile digital classrooms that bring technology, skills, and opportunity to communities where access remains limited, ensuring that digital inclusion reaches those who need it most. Read how it is empowering women and girls in Sierra Leone.

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