Hands-on STEM program for youth in rural Honduras

Our "Technology with Purpose" programme in Trinidad, Honduras continues to be the programme with the longest waiting list of young people wanting to participate, excited by the opportunity to engage in hands-on STEM education!

This is a technology programme for young people in our rural community of Trinidad, Santa Barbara, Honduras. We believe technology is a powerful tool for personal and community development. However there is a significant digital divide in the communities where we work, with very limited access to computers, internet, or hands-on STEM education of any kind for youth from rural communities. Not knowing how to use computers, do research, use Excel, or write a report in Word, puts limits on the possibilities of rural youth to access quality education, decent employment, and participate fully in society.

Through our programme, we enhance the capabilities of young people so that they have better opportunities to learn and engage in STEM, and so that in their futures they can pursue more competitive and meaningful careers. We have developed our programme with great dedication and enthusiasm, knowing that for young people this provides a path to a future of greater opportunities.

During this year, we are working with 24 young people in our year-long secondary school technology programme, with youth ranging from 12 to 24 years of age. They are from rural communities across three municipalities: Trinidad, Chinda, and Ilama, in the Department of Santa Barbara, Honduras. This is one of the poorest performing departments nation-wide, due to rural communities being left behind when it comes to educational opportunities. For most youth participants, coming to educate. is the first time they have had access to a computer.

Youth Leadership: passing on learnings

Our technology programme has not only allowed us to work with young people, but we have also empowered young leaders to pass on their learnings to primary school students through our Level 1 programme. This year we have three youth leaders running these sessions: our high school scholars Shelsy, Elvin and Maudiel, all young people who received educate. high school scholarships as part of our scholarship programme.

In our Level 1 technology programme, we work with boys and girls under 12 years old form rural primary schools. This program runs on Thursdays and Fridays in the afternoons from 2-4pm in the computer lab at our Youth Center. So far, 14 children have graduated from the programme this year, and another 18 are in the process.

This programme remains the only programme of its kind in the area, providing technology education at no cost to rural children and youth, empowering young leaders, and paving the way to a future of greater opportunities.

In the words of our scholarship student and technology youth leader Elvin: "Here in our country there are many young people who really want to continue their studies, but sometimes there is no support. But at educate., it is possible for young people to make their dreams come true."