"Millicom addresses digital divide by providing digital literacy to millions of kids in Latin America."

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Around 1.3 Bn kids aged 3-17 lack internet access at home, keeping them away from the vital digital skills required in the 21^st century economy¹. Globally, over 463 Mn students do not have access to digital learning². The digital gap puts education out of reach for millions of underserved kids worldwide, further widening the inequalities persisting in the communities³.

Millicom, a leading cable & mobile service provider in emerging markets, specifically in Latin America⁴, strives to develop communities by promoting digital literacy⁵.

Millicom’s Connecting Communities (CC) program aims at strengthening communities by providing quality digital education to kids via digital learning centers called telecenters that provide training on IT and programming skills^6;p10.

The Conectate Segur (CS) program aims to protect children's rights by educating kids and teachers on the safe use of the internet and the benefits of digital skills^6;p9. Additionally, Maestr@s Conectad@s program (MC) provides free training to teachers on digital tools, which would later train children⁵.

The CS program has reached over 480,000 children through in-person workshops since 2016⁷. In El Salvador, CS reached 700 teachers, 2,200 parents and 9,000 students since 2019^6;p9. Likewise, in Bolivia, the program has trained 77,600 children and adolescents since 2019^6;p9. CS also partners with UNICEF since 2012 to promote digital learning in Latin America⁸. In 2020, 12.6 Mn people, including 2.6Mn children, benefited from its partnership that ensured continuous learning via digital tools in 9 Latin American nations affected by the COVID-19 lockdown⁸.

There are 156 telecenters installed in Paraguay as of 2020, with 20,500 students and 2,000 teachers having access to them as an educational tool^6;p10. Also, the MC program trained 109,000 teachers in Bolivia in 2020^6;p9.

Millicom promotes digital learning through its various programs, which have benefited millions of children, thus addressing the digital divide.

Sources

• 1. https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1078872
• 2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/08/27/least-463-million-students-around-world-have-no-access-digital-or-broadcast-lessons-unicef/
• 3. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/two-thirds-worlds-school-age-children-have-no-internet-access-home-new-unicef-itu
• 4. https://www.parallelwireless.com/parallel-wireless-partners-with-millicom-to-deliver-first-4g-o-ran-networks-in-latin-america-copy/
• 5. https://www.bnamericas.com/en/features/how-the-latam-telecom-industry-is-embracing-esg
• 6. https://www.millicom.com/media/4430/millicom-sustainability-bond-2020-investor-progress-report.pdf
• 7. https://www.gurufocus.com/news/1112677/millicom-reinforces-its-commitment-to-empowering-women-educating-children-and-developing-communities-during-global-health-crisis
• 8. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/over-12-million-children-caregivers-and-teachers-reached-unicef-and-millicom-tigo

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