By Elisa Villamea | Assistant of Fundraising and Partnerships
The main goal of the Digital Vaga Lume project is to expand internet access in Vaga Lume communities in the Amazon as a way to increase access to reading and, consequently, its positive impact on education and the empowerment of local communities. With an internet connection, children can access distance education, digital books, and learning tools, overcoming many of the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 and the social vulnerability context.
In this pilot project, we enabled two communities in the Amazon region to have qualified internet access, Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro and Santo Isidoro. Both are located in the city of Tefé, Amazonas state. The activities developed have impacted up to 300 families, including children, youth, adults who volunteer and attend the libraries, and the elderly who are part of the storytelling activities.
Since the beginning of the project in early 2021, we have achieved excellent results. With your support, we installed internet in the libraries and digital equipment. We also held the first meeting to understand the community’s needs and prepare them to have an internet connection. In this process, we learned that the internet has an important role in connecting families - residents from the community and their families living in other cities and states, beyond the access to educational content.
Through this project, Carlos, a resident of Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro community, was - for the first time - able to participate in the Youth Council meeting. Vaga Lume's Youth Council is composed by alumni from Vaga Lume's Exchange Program as they continue to engage with the organization.
Thanks to your support, Vaga Lume took the first steps towards the journey of connectivity in Amazon rural communities, tackling the digital divide.
Follow Vaga Lume to learn more about our projects:
IG: @_vaga_lume_
Facebook: @associacaovagalume/
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