Dates: 18-23 July, 2024
Organized by: Amrita OBK Association
Focus Area: Digital Skill Competences

Introduction: A Bootcamp Beyond the Basics
This past summer, something transformative happened. From July 18 to 23, 2024, the Amrita OBK Association hosted its first DIGIFAST Summer Bootcamp, bringing together 19 young participants from across the region for an immersive week of digital learning, creativity, and community-building.

The goal? Not just to teach digital skills — but to inspire, empower, and connect Roma youth with practical tools they can carry forward into education, work, and life.

From video editing on smartphones to crafting surveys, social media posts, and presentations, participants explored the digital world hands-on while enjoying thoughtfully designed leisure activities — like a virtual airship tour and a futuristic visit to Expano, a tech-savvy exhibition space.

The camp kicked off with team-based video production challenges. Each group of four created a daily video summary using CapCut, adding images, effects, and music. Participants learned video editing techniques by doing—and practiced uploading and sharing their work using Google Drive.

Next up, participants dove into Google Forms, creating interactive surveys to poll their peers on leisure activity preferences (e.g., “City tour, sports competition, or beach day?”).
Later, they tackled Canva—designing stylish daily posts to document the camp’s progress. These were proudly shared on the Amrita website, showcasing their creativity and growing design confidence.

From templates to diagrams and color theory, participants got the full tour of PowerPoint basics. After experimenting with slide design, they presented their own mini-projects. Peer feedback and reflection helped deepen their understanding of what makes a presentation clear and impactful.

Based on participant requests, we added sessions on Microsoft Word and Excel, essential skills often missing due to limited access to formal training.
Though Excel formulas were a challenge, the day ended with a boost of confidence—and a visit to Expano, where youth explored brain-controlled games and interactive digital installations.
Reflective group discussions wrapped up the day, strengthening social bonds and supporting emotional awareness in the learning process.

Our final training session focused on a crucial topic: internet safety. Participants learned how to protect personal data, spot phishing scams, and navigate social media privacy settings.
We emphasized the importance of two-factor authentication and how to report suspicious activity— arming everyone with tools to stay safe in a connected world.

Each day concluded with teams presenting their video summaries, followed by group feedback and learning reflections. Trainers monitored individual progress and helped participants identify areas for growth.

To celebrate improvement and dedication, certificates and sweet rewards were given at the end of the camp—an uplifting way to recognize effort and growth.

Our recommendation:
To build lasting impact, regular follow-up sessions are essential.  Scheduled online check-ins with trainers could help reinforce skills and turn short-term learning into long-term capability.

Final Thoughts
The DIGI-FAST Summer Bootcamp was more than just a training it was a journey into self-expression, collaboration, and digital empowerment. For many of the participants, this was their first hands-on experience with tools that are essential in today’s job market and daily life.

And this is only the beginning. With sustained support and access, the digital divide can be narrowed and Roma youth can confidently take their place in the digital society.

Follow Amrita OBK for more updates and future opportunities!
Check out the participants' daily videos and posts on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/amritaobk available.