theunconnected.org and Mentors International

Yucatan, Mexico.

I am one of theunconnected.org’s ambassadors based in Mexico. I have been working with the team on the ground to launch a project where together with NGO Mentors International, we are offering broadband internet at no-cost to people who would otherwise have no internet connection.

I have to say it’s really great to see this positive impact first hand, because for us living in cities it’s hard to fathom how there are still so many people in rural areas without the internet.

Villages Xocchel, Hoctun and Sahcabá, where mobile connectivity is limited or not available at all, locals are restrained from basic services like the internet.  It reduces their access to education, trade, security, impartial political information and important health care during COVID-19.

The communities in these areas are famous for their amazing hand crafted goods that they normally would sell at markets. Due to the current pandemic they have not been able to attend public gatherings and cannot sell their goods.

Mentors International provides these communities with free digital courses to help with the tools required to improve local productivity, family and community life. Students access a free online educational program in online marketing, basic accounting skills, access to trade solutions and financial services as well as other courses that can help to improve their daily lives. The outcome is that they can continue to trade, approach new markets, sustain an income and learn new life skills like managing a bank account, learning to save money securely.

“We don’t charge anything for these two hour classes. What we do ask is that our students perform an equal amount of time on community services.” These can be very basic activities from cooking food for someone who has none, or fixing damaged clothes for neighbours. 

-Zoram Emmanuel Varguez Bacab, Mentors International

Most of the students are women who have never used a computer before.  Many are indigenous.  

Mentors International set up computers in community halls that access their online education platform. As of now, over 15 villages have a small learning area that welcomes anyone interested. The classes are constructed to provide locals with skills and tools required to expand their current business.

Providing a classroom, ventilators, a clean bathroom and pandemic conscious environments, these places are easily recognised and attract attention from the local population. Once inside, visitors are registered and are allowed to access the hardware and internet access.

“I come in once a week. It's great to learn how a computer works and find my way around the internet! It's so nice to have these classes, and all I have to do is knit a shirt for my neighbours kids.”  Mentors Student in, Yacutan, Mexico

The connectivity provided by theunconnected.org is based on a broadband fixed wireless product that provides 80 to 100GB of data which after extensive testing seems to be enough to keep classes going for a month.

Since the connection is  free of cost for the students, it does rely on donations from people in countries like the United States, Canada, England. “The fact a donor  can see where their financial support is making an impact has received very positive feedback from donors”, says Zoram.

This has been a great experience and to be able to first hand see the immediate impact connectivity can have on people's life both now and for the future.

I am hoping these projects will expand to more locations in Mexico as the need for connectivity has never been greater.

-Jeroen Hoevenberg  - Mexico