Connecting communities with digital literacy programs in Poland

Digital skills are a lifeline to connection and opportunity for people of all ages and walks of life. Microsoft is teaming up with the Information Society Development Foundation (Fundacja Rozwoju Społeczeństwa Informacyjnego (FRSI)) to bring new technologies and digital literacy to residents of small towns and villages in Poland, with a focus on helping recent immigrants integrate into Polish communities.

Building upon a successful three-year collaboration with the Raszyn and Ożarów Mazowiecki communities, FRSI has developed educational programs to equip educators, job seekers, and students with essential digital skills, ensuring they are well prepared to navigate the evolving digital landscape. Funded by Microsoft, the FRSI program My Digital Life helps community members of all ages build the skills they need to participate fully in the digital economy. My Digital Life provides workshops and webinars, online courses, free materials, and job placement support. Members of the community have access to digital equipment donated by Microsoft to local educational institutions and organizations.

The FRSI My Digital Life program features services such as:

• Free workshops in AI skills teach job seekers, entrepreneurs, and other residents how to use AI safely and effectively. Topics include How to Use AI Safely, Automation and AI in Small Business, Using AI in Job Searches, and more.
• My Digital Life technology support and training services help Ukrainians in the two communities of Raszyn and Ożarów Mazowiecki find jobs in their professions. Through its network of employer partners, FRSI has created opportunities for displaced Ukrainian professionals to secure thriving-wage jobs that can sustain refugee families and be reinvested in their communities.
• My Digital Life digital transition services help community organizations and institutions deliver digital education for residents of all ages, from youth to seniors. My Digital Life provides expert training in coding, cybersecurity, social media management, and more—as well as website design and digital equipment and software.

Digital literacy strengthens community ties, empowering people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with one another and access the resources they need to learn, establish careers, and thrive. My Digital Life has been a lifeline for refugees from Ukraine and Belarus looking to build a new life in Poland. The program helped fashion entrepreneurs Viktoria Krasnova and Albina Ravska create their online brand Con Amore Fashion. My Digital Life also helped Ukrainian mathematician Mariia Lakoma establish herself as an educator. Besides language tutoring and job placement, the program helped her build the confidence to connect with her new community: “When you have this feeling that you will work in your profession again then you feel like you have grown wings and you can do anything. You are ready to work and you know that everything will work out.”

Microsoft is committed to strengthening communities and empowering the organizations that help them thrive. Together with FRSI and My Digital Life, we are helping communities use digital resources to connect and prosper.