Siganto Digital Learning Workshops

The Siganto Digital Learning Workshops, generously funded by the Siganto Foundation, engage with recently arrived migrant communities, providing free computer hardware and focusing on ICT self-sufficiency. Each series includes four sessions over four consecutive weeks, with each workshop exploring a different aspect of digital literacy – including online safety, security and use of social media.

The SDLW have been running at State Library of Queensland since 2018, with nearly 200 participants graduating,  and while participants report that the skills gained and the opportunity to collaborate are highlights of the program for them, some more surprising outcomes sometimes unfold. 

Yousif Al-Patti left his hometown of Bartella in Iraq in 2014 to live as a refugee in Jordan before being able to travel to Australia to start a new life two years later – first as a high school student at St Laurence’s College and later as an engineer student at UQ. He came across the Siganto program through Multicultural Australia and, after participating in the program, eventually was asked to facilitate it. A wonderful success story in itself, Yousif’s journey in the program became surprising when a primary school friend from his hometown, Dived Chuchana, one day walked in as a Siganto participant and recognised him. “I did not expect to meet anyone from my home town in Australia”.  At the next Siganto session, Dived brought along his cousins Milad and Fadi Al Auty who were once in the same grade as Yousif. The four of them are enjoying being in contact again and sharing new skills at The Edge.