For years now, as part of our commitment to improving society through technology, we have been actively collaborating on various projects to help bridge the wage gap in rural areas with limited coverage, thereby facilitating access and development for local communities.
We firmly believe that education is a tool for progress and also—above all—a universal human right; it is therefore our responsibility to contribute our knowledge and experience toward this end.
To this end, we rely on the invaluable support of the international NGO Formación Senegal, which works at every stage of people’s lives to bring about real change in these communities.
Some of its main activities include early childhood enrichment for young children, digital literacy to support the curriculum for elementary and secondary school students, and the “Formarse para Quedarse” program, which focuses on providing high-level academic preparation for the next generation of young people through educational scholarships.
As part of this commendable work, MercadoIT serves as a technology partner for several of its projects, such as the digitization of several schools in the Senegalese Sahel, the provision of technological equipment, teacher training, and regular monitoring of the project.
This is an example of the real-world application and transformative impact that a single, well-managed laptop can have on a development project. This is the story of Mame Diarra Sylla, as told by Toni Zamorano, Project Director of Training in Senegal—a colleague and outstanding professional committed to improving society.
"Mame is part of the group of students in the FORMARSE PARA QUEDARSE project; which is an initiative of our development NGO aimed at providing access to quality education for a new generation of students in rural areas, so that, in the medium term, real social transformation can be achieved, impacting the economies of their rural communities. The students are selected by the local NGO Villas de Ndem, our partner in Senegal for more than 7 years, with whom we collaborate on numerous projects.”
Specifically, this group of 19 young people has the opportunity to study at top-tier colleges and universities, with the goal of securing a decent job—something that, in Senegal, is only accessible to people with high purchasing power, since quality education is beyond the financial means of young people in poor areas.
It so happens that these students have committed to focusing part of their professional efforts, once they have completed their studies, on the projects that Formación Senegal carries out in the region; this strategy ensures that this investment in training has a direct and positive impact on the poorest areas. Furthermore, a new generation of young people with leadership skills and high-level training will not only ensure the continuity of the projects but will also minimize these communities’ dependence on external organizations.
"Specifically, Mame, a senior studying Business Management and Administration, handles the project's administrative tasks, so having a high-performance laptop—like the one donated by MercadoIT—allows her to perform her duties effectively."
Toni Zamorano, Director of Senegal's Lineup.
We would like to thank all the partners who have made it possible for Mame to have and use this equipment and who, through their work, are helping to create a better future for future generations.
If you'd like to support our donation and opportunity-creation projects, please contact us.
