Today, on World Children’s Day, we celebrate the stories of girls and boys who, despite their hardship and geographic barriers, are experiencing a veritable educational transformation thanks to technology. In Latin America, there are still major challenges with educational inequality, especially in rural areas and marginal environments, where thousands of children have no access to quality education. However, initiatives such as ProFuturo, led by the Fundación Telefónica and Fundación “la Caixa” are making a significant difference, bringing technology into the classroom and opening new opportunities for the future.
A clear example of this transformation can be found in Porcón Alto, a small community in the region of Cajamarca, Peru, over 900 kilometres from Lima. In this village, with limited educational resources and infrastructure, the arrival of ProFuturo has meant a veritable change. Through its educational platform, students of primary school 82912, located high in the mountains, have begun to use digital tools that provide for more dynamic and effective learning. Subjects such as mathematics, science and managing emotions are now learnt in a manner that is interactive and personalised.
Helen, a 12-year-old girl from Porcón Alto, has witnessed this change. “I like studying mathematics on the tablet because we learn a little faster. What’s more, this tablet with the maths program shows us problems that we have to solve, and we can see what we’ve learnt and make a lot of progress,” she says, excitedly. Thanks to this technology, Helen not only has improved her maths, she also knows more about herself and her emotions. Her dream to become a doctor is that much closer thanks to digital tools.
In this same community, Cyntia, 11, also sees technology as a partner in her education. She loves helping her mother in the kitchen, but what she enjoys most is learning about science and mathematics on her tablet. “I like flowers a lot, but what I really like is to see what cells are like or learn how to take care of the environment and not litter”, she enthusiastically explains.
These stories are just an example of how technology is opening doors in communities which seemed all but forgotten. Through ProFuturo, children are learning essential technological skills for their future in an increasingly digital world. And best of all, not only does the programme have an impact on academic performance, it also increases the personal development of each student.
Access to digital devices, such as tablets, enables students to progress at their own pace, adjusting to their needs and learning styles. Thanks to these advances, children such as Leila, 12, feel more sure about themselves and motivated in their studies. “Thanks to tablets, I can do my maths more quickly. After I finish a problem, I have time to review science and social studies”, says Leila, who dreams of studying business administration and travelling the world.
In communities in Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Peru, the digital educational resources are contextualised to reflect local traditions, which makes what they learn more relevant and meaningful. Like 12-year-old Joel from Porcón Alto, who dreams of being a pilot, says, “I would like to fly planes to bring people from one place to another. I also like mathematics, and I love solving maths problems.”
The impact of ProFuturo goes beyond the classroom. Children are learning to care for the environment, the local flora and fauna, and how to protect the natural resources. Dairis, 11, is a clear example of how the science classes teach children to apply what they learn to real life. I’d like to become a civil engineer in order to build a hospital here, where children and adults can receive the medical care they need,” says Dairis, who now knows that sheep dung can be used as a plant fertilizer.
Despite the achievements, the digital gap is still one of the greatest challenges in Latin America. According to UNESCO, over 100 million children and teenagers in the region are excluded from education. This situation, worsened by the pandemic, highlights the urgent need of initiatives such as ProFuturo, which work tirelessly to close this gap and quality digital education to all children, no matter the context.
Today, more than ever, is the time to support digital inclusion and ensure that all children have the same opportunities to learn and grow. Access to technology is undoubtedly a key tool for a fairer future, where every girl and boy, no matter where they are or what their socio-economic situation is, can have big dreams and reach their goals.
Through ProFuturo, millions of children are receiving the necessary tools to move forward in an increasingly digital world. On this World Children’s Day, we are celebrating the achievements we have made and renew our commitment to continue transforming education in the most vulnerable areas of Latin America and Africa. Digital education is undoubtedly a road that leads to equal opportunities and a more promising future for all the children in the world.
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