Carlow digital skills camp connects young people to local community

Pictured at the Digital Skills Summer Camp in Carlow College were (l-r), Stephen Dargan, Kate McHugh, Gemma Russell (tutors) and Professor Emmanuel Darkwa (camp co-ordinator), also shown are members of the 10-12 age group, (rear l-r), Aoibhín McNamara, Samuel Bayley, Róisín McNamara, Audrey Bayley, (front l-r), Douglas Reid, Blake Lyons, Amelia McHugh and Travis Pearson Photos: michaelorourkephotography.ie
A UNIVERSITY of Limerick professor living in Carlow has developed an innovative technology summer camp that connects young people’s digital learning with local community projects.
Dr Immanuel Darkwa, a professor in climate adaptation and sustainability, runs the D den teenage digital skills summer camps at Carlow College. The programme, now in its second year, serves young people across three age groups ‒ 10-12, 13-15, and 16-19.

Unlike traditional classroom learning, the camp employs an activity-based approach focused on practical application.
“It’s not like in school but rather task-based or project-based,” Dr Darkwa explained. “The kids learn how to use technology and apply it to some project or task and then have an output at the end of the week. They’ve got a portfolio they can take back home with them.”
The programme emphasises developing genuine competence in technology rather than basic usage.
“It’s 21st century technologies or software packages that we tend to teach – and get the kids to gain competence in,” said Dr Darkwa. “I make a distinction between using software and gaining competence in it, so for us it's about teaching them how they can apply these software packages in a real-life context.”

Dr Darkwa noted that many young people are assumed to be digitally literate because they use social media platforms, but he draws a clear distinction between consuming and creating content. The camp focuses on teaching participants how to create content that can make a meaningful societal impact.
A key feature of the programme is its partnership with local government and community organisations. Students have worked on story mapping projects for heritage sites in Carlow with input from heritage officer Dr Eoin O’Sullivan, who attended their presentations to review their work.
Participants have also collaborated on a county museum project with museum staff officer John McDarby and explored sustainable development goals with feedback from Carlow Co Council’s climate action co-ordinator Jannette O’Brien.

“What I’m hoping to achieve is that the kids who attend the camp actually do things that are of benefit to Carlow county or to the town,” Dr Darkwa said. “It is about not only getting the kids to think critically about using software packages or technologies and gaining the skills and the competence in using them but applying them to some of the local challenges.”
The week concludes with Friday presentations, where all participants showcase their work. Dr Darkwa believes this builds essential interpersonal skills alongside technical competencies.
“By getting them to take a lead on different aspects of it, they get to do a little bit of leadership,” he said. “So, we embed all these kinds of soft skills, as you might call them,” while also developing teamwork and communication abilities.