LATIN AMERICA - Digital Voices and Computer Literacy

Adam Melendrez

Summer 2006

Lejamani, Honduras

In the summer of 2006, Adam Melendrez joined the ranks of several former GIIP students and served an internship in Lejamani, Honduras with of one GIIP’s sustaining partners, the Riecken Foundation.

The Reicken Foundation is an NGO working in Honduras and Guatemala to “promote the discovery of ideas and resources by supporting the construction and operation of public libraries.” The goal of his internship was to assist Hondurans in utilizing the Internet to advance communication and availability of information while developing the digital voices of the library beneficiaries.

During the two months he spent living in Honduras, Adam was able to utilize the tech skills he obtained through GIIP to carry out two computer courses in the town’s public library. Classes were held every weekday evening and students were encouraged to come at least twice a week. The public library was funded and supplied with computers and Internet access by the Reicken Foundation. Adam’s classes taught basic computer skills, such as word processing, email and using the Internet for research. A second series of classes focused on blogs, and creating and hosting web sites.

More information about the Reicken Foundation can be found at:www.riecken.org