Empowering Communities through Student-led Technology Training
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the ability to harness technology is not just a skill but a necessity for economic empowerment and meaningful participation in society. However, disparities in technology access and education continue to widen the digital divide, particularly in underserved communities like those in the Rio Grande Valley.
IDRA’s Digital Ambassadors program aims to empower RGV communities through youth-led technology training. The program also seeks to bridge the digital divide by transforming students into leaders and technology trainers for their local communities.
IDRA’s innovative program is structured in three pivotal phases over a five-month period in 2023-24: research, mastery and dissemination.
Initially, participating students engaged in comprehensive participatory action research to identify the most pressing technology needs within their community. The needs assessment was grounded in direct community engagement, ensuring that the training developed would be both relevant and impactful.
See story by Connect Humanity: South Texas colonia students step up as tech connectors – A showcase of the Rio Grande Valley Digital Ambassadors Program
Following the research phase, students embarked on a rigorous learning journey to master the selected technology skill. That phase leveraged a blend of online learning platforms, hands-on workshops, and mentorship by technology, research, and community engagement professionals, ensuring that students gain both the depth of knowledge and the pedagogical skills necessary to effectively teach others.
The program’s culmination is a community training event, organized and led by the students. That event will not only provide vital technological training to community members but also foster a sense of empowerment among the students, as they witness the tangible impact of their efforts. By teaching others, students reinforce their own learning and develop valuable leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
See story by the Rio Grande Guardian: Digital Ambassadors teach computer literacy skills to colonia residents
IDRA’s Digital Ambassadors project embodies a sustainable model of community development and education, where knowledge is not just received but shared, creating a multiplying effect that extends far beyond the immediate participants. We envision a future where communities are equipped with the technological skills needed to thrive in the 21st century.
New Digital Ambassadors for 2024-25!
Following the success of the pilot program in early 2024, Methodist Healthcare Ministries is providing funding for a new phase of the Digital Ambassador program that launched in June and will continue through December of this year. Our new group of ambassadors includes 12 students ages 14 to 17.
News
Digital Ambassadors teach computer literacy skills to colonia residents, Dayna Reyes, Rio Grande Guardian, August 20, 2024
Students Bridge the Digital Divide in Colonias – Highlights from IDRA’s Pilot Student Digital Ambassadorships, by Michelle Vega & Aurelio Manuel Montemayor, M.Ed., IDRA Newsletter, June-July 2024
Web story by Connect Humanity: South Texas colonia students step up as tech connectors – A showcase of the Rio Grande Valley Digital Ambassadors Program – IDRA and ARISE Adelante joined forces to launch the Digital Ambassadors program, to train high-school students in four colonias as guides to help residents in Las Milpas, South Tower, Muñiz, and Hargill with essential digital skills, July 2024
