Comunicaciones DIA

Showcasing the DIA Lab TT at the Village Wallawah Event 

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On March 30th, our local partner in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) participated in the Village Wallawah event, providing a platform for entrepreneurs to increase their visibility and gain experience selling and interacting with customers. CARIRI showcased the Democratizing Innovation in the Americas (DIA) Lab TT as part of the program\’s outreach to encourage entrepreneurs to sign up for the 2023 cohort and join the DIA Labs network.  The event featured Atisha Mitchell, a 2022 seed funding beneficiary and founder of \”Tubanistic.\” Atisha\’s experience with the DIA Lab has been instrumental in helping her grow her business and increase her reach. So, during the Village Wallawah event, she had the opportunity to sell her turbans and interact with customers, gaining valuable experience and networking.   Atisha Mitchell, founder of \”Tubanistic\” and DIA Lab TT Pitch Tank winner Launched in June 2021 in partnership with CARIRI and with the financial support of the Citi Foundation, the DIA Lab TT aims to promote innovation and the creation of low-cost, high-impact, high-quality innovation solutions among youth by providing mentorship, seed funding, training, and access to technology, and therefore generate livelihood opportunities for their communities on a long-term sustainable basis. Since its launch, the DIA Lab TT has trained more than 324 young people, provided seed funding opportunities to more than 37 projects in Pitch Tank Competitions, and contributed to developing or improving more than 88 innovation projects.  CARIRI\’s showcasing of the DIA TT Lab at the Village Wallawah event and featuring a seed funding beneficiary helped demonstrate the benefits of the DIA program and encouraged more entrepreneurs to sign up for the 2023 cohort. Thus, the DIA program\’s support will continue to help young entrepreneurs in Trinidad and Tobago grow their businesses, create solutions that benefit their communities, and contribute to the growth and development of Trinidad and Tobago. 

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DIA Team Presents the JET Project Jamaica Training Curriculum to Upskill Jamaican Youth in On-Demand Digital Skills 

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On March 30th, the DIA Team carried out the orientation session of the JET Project with the first cohort of participants. The  JET Project Jamaica, an initiative of the Democratizing Innovation in the Americas (DIA) Program, aims to reskill and upskill youth in the most in-demand digital and life skills and later connect them with jobs, local freelancing opportunities, or support them in developing entrepreneurial ventures.   JET addresses the mismatch between the digital skills of youth and those in demand by the labor market, as training contents and curricula are often obsolete in covering the current market needs. Higher education and vocational training programs and systems must be structured to respond quickly to the shifting demands of private sector companies operating in the digital economy. Further, there needs to be more aware of job opportunities and the skills required for available jobs.  During the orientation session, participants were presented with the Curriculum Package, composed of soft skills and digital courses. The soft skills component ranges from communication, problem-solving, and leadership to financial literacy, conflict management, and decision-making. Moreover, the mandatory digital skills courses cover artificial intelligence, web, programming and app development, and social media management. The optional tracks offer cybersecurity training, digital image and video editing, or machine learning. \”This experience will give you leverage on having been exposed to these critical abilities required more than ever in the digital economy. Our team is motivated to keep progressing with this crucial project and support youth in joining the innovation movement,\” said Naketa West, JET Project Coordinator.  The JET Project is a cutting-edge initiative that uses technology to empower Jamaican youth to join the digital transformation. To design the training curriculum, the DIA Team partnered with Citibeats, whose ethical artificial intelligence created the Employment and Skill Monitor to identify the leading trends, social insights, and labor market indicators. The DIA team then developed the presented training program, focusing on the people behind the data and their needs.  Innovation goes beyond creating technology; it is how technology can improve or solve some urban challenges faced by youth and vulnerable communities. The JET Project Jamaica is a step in the right direction. The passion and eagerness of the participants in the orientation session serve as a reminder of the impact the JET Project can have on the lives of Jamaican youth.  * The implementation of the JET Project is possible thanks to the financial and/or strategic collaboration of the following partners:

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Sharing Stories, Inspiring Communities: Highlights from the Caribbean Regional Video Workshop

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The Caribbean Regional Video Workshop has ended, and we are thrilled to share our fantastic experience! The DIA Labs were excited as we welcomed creative young minds from Belize, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago. Our participants learned the ropes of video production using their smartphones or a DSLR camera, which participants could access from their respective Labs. From shot listing and logistics to equipment and directing, they explored all stages of video production. Our online training sessions allowed participants from different countries to connect and learn together. The onsite production training was an absolute blast, and we loved seeing everyone come together to make magic happen. Javier Molina, workshop instructor and Belizean filmmaker, traveled to all destinations to teach all the fundamentals and hands-on skills to produce a video from beginning to end. With over 20 years of experience under his belt, the participants gathered priceless knowledge that will inform their creative pursuits. Online Post-Production Zoom training session with all participants, led by the trainer Javier Molina. Liz, from the Belize team, shared her experience, “It was really good. I didn’t know much about video production going in, and now I have a good hand on the basics.” When asked if they were standout moments for her, Liz expressed how much she appreciated the support offered throughout the workshop. “I really liked how Ms. Audrey was very willing to open more spaces for us to learn. She has been helpful, and I didn’t expect that, so it is very good.” Liz plans to use what she has learned in her professional life, saying, “I have customers and works related to the video production field, so I am more prepared to help them.” The Belize team learning to use a DSLR camera on the campus of the UWI Belize DIA Lab, at the Open Campus of UWI in Belize City.  The trainer Javier Molina leading the onsite training in Belize City. Yanique from Jamaica had an enjoyable experience saying that: “It was fun. I have learned a lot, like how to get proper angles with the camera and how to write a good script.” Yanique’s team decided to work on a short documentary highlighting mental health in their country and the effects of COVID-19. However, commitments to school and other outside factors meant they could not finish their film. She hopes to apply her newfound skills to complete the documentary. She would be interested in another workshop, saying, “The program was very good, and hopefully, I get a chance to participate again in the future when I have more time.” The Jamaican team and Mr. Molina learning to use a DSLR and their phone to shoot a video, at the Institute of Law, and Economics in Kingston, Jamaica.   The Jamaican team and Mr. Molina in a post-discussion.   Overall, the workshop was an incredible success, and we cannot wait to see what amazing videos our participants will produce in the future! Liz told us they are working on a documentary titled “The Beautiful Soul of Belize.” It primarily focuses on the Belizean lifestyle. “We’re gathering information currently, but this film intends to inspire and appreciate what we have in Belize.” We are so excited to see these filmmakers take their skills to the next level and make an impact in their communities. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our partners, the UWI Open Campus in Belize, the Institute of Law and Economics (ILE) in Jamaica, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the trainer Javier Molina and the Belizean video production company Ignite for making this possible. Participants at the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute in Trinidad and Tobago learning how to use different equipment to shoot a video such as a gimbal, a drone, a smartphone, and a DSLR camera.  Mr. Molina with representatives of the DIA Youth Innovation Lab in Trinidad and Tobago.  Written by Audrey Robin, Project Coordinator – Belize

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How the DIA Program\’s JET Project Jamaica incorporated Citibeats\’ Ethical AI platform to Help Jamaican Youth Succeed in the Digital Economy  

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The rapid expansion of the digital technology landscape poses challenges for young people disproportionately affected by the mismatch between their digital skills and those in demand by the labor market. In 2022, the unemployment rate for youth was 6 times above pre-pandemic levels*. This calls for prioritizing employability and upskilling strategies to build a resilient labor market.   To tackle this issue, the DIA Program launched the \”Jamaican Youth through Empowerment & Training\” (JET) project, which aims to re-skill and up-skill youth with the most demanded digital and soft skills and later connect them with jobs or freelancing opportunities or support them in developing entrepreneurial ventures.   The DIA Program has been working with Jamaican youth since 2016 through its DIA Urban Lab and the NCB Icon Lab, which gives them a wealth of experience in these areas of operation. To make the JET Project Jamaica even more cutting-edge, DIA partnered with Citibeats, whose ethical AI platform designed the Employment and Skills Monitor. It enabled it to identify Jamaica\’s labor market trends and quickly develop innovative training curricula that respond to real-time labor market needs.   The Employment and Skills Monitor reflects that Jamaicans\’ three most demanded digital skills are programming, web, app development, Artificial Intelligence, and Social Media Management. These findings, as well as other relevant insights such as the most demanded skills by sector, the general sentiments towards specific digital skills, and a global perspective towards these areas, boost our efforts at the DIA Program to tailor our JET project to what the people, behind all these data numbers really want, desire and aspire.    The partnership with Citibeats represents a powerful opportunity to leverage artificial intelligence and data to improve the lives of young people in Jamaica. The Employment and Skills Monitor provides an ethical and effective way to collect and analyze data, allowing organizations like The Trust for the Americas through the DIA program to make data-driven decisions that can help improve the lives of young people in Jamaica and beyond.   That is how the DIA Program\’s JET Project Jamaica incorporated Citibeats\’ Ethical AI platform to help Jamaican youth succeed in the digital economy by using data to drive social impact. To learn more, check out our latest report.   * Source: ILO (2022)

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Rodrigo Iriani Visits Belize to Advance in the Implementation of Code Caribbean 

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Innovation is the key to progress, and STEAM education provides the foundation for innovative thinking. Aware of this, last month, the DIA Senior Program Officer of the Trust for the Americas, Rodrigo Iriani, visited Belize to advance further the implementation of the \”Code Caribbean\” project. This initiative is unique in its methodology, which includes a pilot program that will train a pool of teachers in the education system in computer science to then expand essential technical skills in primary and secondary schools to enhance the future employability and readiness for continued education of youth aged 11-13 in Barbados and Belize.  During the school visits, Rodrigo felt inspired by the teachers making the most of what they had to teach computer science to their 12 and 13 yeared old students. He reflected on the vital significance of this project to promote the development of future generations as \”Code Caribbean\” will develop more interest in technology-oriented subjects in students, motivate youth to continue with computer science education, and prepare them for tech careers.   Additionally, Rodrigo was joined by Pat Yongpradit, Academic Director of Code.org, and Namrita Melani, Network Administrator of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology of Belize, to present the pilot project on Channel 5 Belize. They had the opportunity to give more information and details about the scope and intended impact of the project. Pat Yongpradit emphasized that the project invited its beneficiaries to \”not be a user of technology but a creator of technology.\”  The \”Code Caribbean\” project is a promising approach in primary and secondary education to address the needs of vulnerable youth. By creating deeper ties between the Ministries of Education and the private sector, the project ensures that chosen areas align with job opportunities, providing students with the tools and skills they need to succeed in today\’s technology-advanced world.  For more information on the \”Code Caribbean\” project, please visit the Trust for the Americas website. You can also listen to the full interview here to gain a better understanding of the project\’s scope and learn about the importance of coding for developing countries. 

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The DIA Lab TT’s Participants Explore the Orange Economy Through the Caribbean Regional Workshop 

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In 2023, the DIA program has begun to explore new components to continue promoting innovation and creating opportunities for youth. Through this effort, we seek to remain cutting-edge and adapt to global needs and trends. This is the case with the orange economy, a whole new sector that contemplates the set of creative industries and activities combining the creation, production, and marketing of intangible and cultural content.   We know that this sector comes with many opportunities and that it never stops being relevant. Our approach to start getting into it began through the Regional Caribbean Workshop aimed at youth from Belize, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago to learn how to produce a professional short video from scratch in a hybrid modality.   The workshop facilitator, Mr. Javier Molina, from Ignite Belize, exposed participants to production, mastering equipment basics, photography, and directing. With these new skill sets, participants produced videos to raise awareness of their communities\’ challenges.   Chelsea Fraser, one of the workshop\’s participants and DIA Lab TT beneficiary, stated: \”I was impressed with Mr. Javier\’s patience in answering all our questions and his enthusiasm to teach us. I would\’ve loved to have more in-person days like that and learn so much more with him and the rest of the members. The DSLR camera quality was amazing at taking professional-looking photos, and that can be used to take pictures of products or use the gimbal for short videos for advertisements would be fantastic for my business\’s social media.\”   These testimonials will lead us to continue promoting innovation and providing opportunities in the orange economy, as they can inspire and influence present and future generations. We wish all the participants the best and can\’t wait to see the incredible films the teams will present as they showcase their unique and creative perspectives and contributions.   To learn more about the potential of the orange economy, check out the following blog. 

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The DIA Lab TT’s Implementing Partner Launched the CARIRI’S Food Processing Facility 

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Our implementing partner at the DIA Lab TT, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the launch of CARIRI’s Food Processing Facility, an event in which some young participants from the Lab and seed funding winners had the opportunity to attend and showcase their ventures.   It is no mystery that the food and beverage industry is facing widespread challenges on margins, sustainability, regulatory compliance, and the need to invest in innovative technology. In this sense, food entrepreneurs seeking growth and expansion are limited by production capabilities because these are businesses that usually start in their home kitchens.    Micro, Small, and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) will need to acquire raw materials, workforce, equipment, and space when scaling up food production. Therefore, CARIRI recognized this need and designed the Food Processing Centre to provide additional support to these brave young owners of MSMEs in the food and beverages sector.   This is an incredible opportunity for all the DIA Lab TT participants who are passionate about advancing their ventures in this industry. It signifies a step forward in the offerings of the DIA Lab TT since our objective is always aimed at educating, training, and impacting the communities through the ventures our participants create with the tools provided.   During the event, Jonathan Roach, one of the DIA Lab’s participants, gained further recognition from the attendees. Jonathan started his venture, the “Seasoning Source”, in 2020. He then entered the DIA Lab in 2021 and participated in the Pitch Tank Competition, where he was awarded seed funding. The impact was clear on his business plan and operations; Jonathan went from producing 1 crate of seasoning to 80, thanks to the support and tools provided by the DIA Lab TT. At the CARIRI ribbon-cutting event, he garnered much recognition from individuals interested in delivering the product to them directly, food establishments, and national entities like NAMDEVCO.   Like Jonathan, we want other young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the collaboration spaces, training, mentoring, access to technology, and seed funding opportunities that the DIA Lab TT offers, along with the well-trained staff and well-equipped facilities at CARIRI.   CARIRI’s Food Processing Facility will continue boosting its impact on individuals and their communities. It will become a centre for innovation in the food and beverages sector that will kickstart much social entrepreneurship. Congratulations on this milestone! 

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Yefry Nuñez, beneficiario del DIA Lab RD, avanza con su emprendimiento READY Recycling

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Según un estudio del BID, en República Dominicana se generan aproximadamente 88 mil toneladas de residuos de plásticos al año. De esta cifra, apenas se gestiona el 25% y el resto va al Mar Caribe y a los ríos, lo que pone en peligro el desarrollo de la región y la salud de cada ciudadano.   Problemáticas como esta requieren de acción inmediata. Por eso, en los espacios de colaboración creados por los DIA Labs, buscamos fomentar una mentalidad enfocada a la creación de soluciones y la conciencia sobre el impacto en el medioambiente. Un ejemplo de esto es Yefry Nuñez, un joven participante del DIA Lab en Baní y fundador de READY Recycling, el primer contenedor que pre-clasifica los residuos mediante una tapa desplazable que comprime los desechos, aumenta la capacidad de almacenamiento, y cuenta con sensores digitales entrelazados con una aplicación móvil para automatizar el proceso de recolección.  Yefry nos contaba que, en enero del 2022, se puso como resolución de año nuevo investigar y desarrollar una alternativa ante dicha problemática medioambiental. Desde entonces, Yefry ha ido escalando y participando en varias competencias de emprendimientos con impacto social.  Primero, compitió en el concurso interno de su universidad, la Copa de Emprendimiento UTESA, en la que quedó como finalista en la categoría “Prototipo”. Luego, atravesó el país para participar en el Ideatón y la Competencia Pitch de Proyectos Innovadores del DIA Lab RD en Baní, donde quedó de primer lugar ganando USD$1,000.00 en fondos semilla. Este apoyo le permitió impulsar su emprendimiento al optimizar la estructura de su negoció. Finalmente, Yefry ganó el tercer lugar en la Impact Startup Competition (ISC), un programa internacional donde estudiantes de educación superior asumen el reto de desarrollar startups sociales que mejoren la calidad de vida en América Latina.  Todas las experiencias que ha vivido Yefry corresponden a un joven comprometido a crecer y a impactar a su país. Asimismo, su proyecto Ready Recycling, representa una comunidad que desea impulsar los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODSs). Desde los DIA Labs RD, queremos seguir impulsando a que más jóvenes participen en la solución de los problemas locales y tomen un papel protagonista en el desarrollo de sus comunidades. Por eso, fomentamos estos espacios disruptivos en donde no sólo se les otorga a los jóvenes beneficiarios capacitaciones basadas en un currículo especializado, sino actividades que buscan sacarlos de sus zonas de confort, hacerlos crecer, reflexionar y convertirlos en agentes de cambio social y ambiental. 

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Darlyn Bueno Abreu, beneficiario del DIA Lab RD, ganó el Premio Nacional de La Juventud La Vega con su emprendimiento Terra Alta

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Desde que conocimos a Darlyn Bueno Abreu, un joven beneficiario del DIA Lab RD La Vega, nos sorprendió su ímpetu en ayudar a solucionar desafíos locales. Nos contó que el principal problema de los agricultores de La Vega era la falta de acceso a semillas de calidad. También, nos comentó que en República Dominicana seguía existiendo un importante porcentaje de desnutrición crónica en niños, lo que genera una coyuntura social y económica difícil de resolver. Para cualquiera que lea esto, esta situación es alarmante, pero para los jóvenes innovadores como Darlyn, que forman parte de la red DIA, esto sólo es una oportunidad para contribuir a sus comunidades. Te contamos su historia.  Como participante del DIA Lab RD, Darlyn fue uno de los ganadores de la Competencia Pitch de Proyectos Innovadores, con la cual recibió fondos semillas para impulsar su emprendimiento “Terra Alta”. Esta iniciativa busca la administración comunitaria de bancos de semillas y también funciona como un banco de conocimientos para la gestión de cultivos coordinada y posterior siembra. A partir de este proyecto, se empodera a las comunidades en su producción alimentaria y como objetivo final se propone reducir la desnutrición en la comunidad de Constanza, en el municipio de La Vega.   Esta historia disruptiva no solo se queda ahí. Darlyn ganó el Premio Nacional de La Juventud La Vega en el reglón de aportes a los derechos humanos. Esta categoría está fundamentada en la promoción de los derechos de la niñez, la adolescencia y la juventud. Asimismo, se tomaron en cuenta factores como la participación activa en programas para el desarrollo de estas poblaciones, incidencia en temáticas y creación de espacios para el desarrollo, y el nivel de impacto del proyecto.  Este tipo de premios impulsa a los jóvenes a involucrarse en el fomento de soluciones a problemas locales a través de sus ideas. Esto es precisamente lo que buscan los DIA Labs en RD, el mismo Dylan los definió como “una gran oportunidad para que jóvenes que tienen muchas ideas puedan tener ese empuje inicial. Primero, con educación y capacitación de cómo hacer el negocio. Luego, en prepararnos para lanzarnos en el mercado con esa idea innovadora.”  Dylan creo a través de Terra Alta, una comunidad colaborativa para la capacitación y promoción de producción sostenible y segura que le brindará a una cadena de pequeños productores rurales oportunidades en nuevos mercados. Este proyecto también beneficia la integración social, la innovación en los modelos a través de la digitalización y la creación de valor, y sobre todo un propósito social y vital como es la disminución de la desnutrición infantil. 

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Parte III – Simplificación y digitalización de trámites en Acosta, Esparza y Sarchí 

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El uso de las tecnologías inteligentes en trámites administrativos está relacionado con una mayor eficiencia institucional, transparencia, satisfacción y participación ciudadana. Por eso, la iniciativa Simplificación y Digitalización de Trámites, elaborada en el marco del proyecto DIA «Innovación y Tecnologías Cívicas para Aumentar la Transparencia en Servicios Gubernamentales», surgió en 2020 como una propuesta de solución para combatir las limitaciones que algunas municipalidades en Costa Rica tenían al momento de prestar trámites y servicios a la ciudadanía.   Desde el exceso de requisitos para la gestión de estos procesos, la burocracia y la falta de información, hasta la carencia de legislación, esta iniciativa buscó incorporar las tecnologías emergentes en el sector público para agilizar procedimientos administrativos como el permiso de uso del suelo, la recolección de residuos y la exoneración de bienes inmuebles en Acosta, Esparza y Sarchí respectivamente.  Implementada en alianza con InnovaAP – UCR, el ITCR y LACChain, este esfuerzo ha sido implementado a través de una metodología colaborativa que permitió el rediseño de trámites y servicios prestados por los cantones, de manera ágil y accesible, con un enfoque en la persona usuaria. Después de la implementación de cinco fases conformadas por actividades y talleres que transcurrieron de manera independiente en cada una de las municipalidades, se logró digitalizar los trámites facilitando así la experiencia de la ciudadanía.   Los sistemas fueron adecuados a un estilo formulario para que su uso sea sencillo, con la capacidad de subir los archivos pertinentes de acuerdo al tipo de trámite por efectuar. Esta iniciativa también contó con una campaña de difusión para promover el nuevo modelo digital con el que cuenta cada Municipalidad. Como parte final del proceso de implementación, se sistematizaron perspectivas y aprendizajes de los usuarios y funcionarios que participaron y a su vez, el planteamiento de oportunidades de mejora en el proyecto considerando los resultados obtenidos.   Resultados finales de la iniciativa:  Parte de la misión de The Trust for the Americas es la creación de alianzas con los distintos sectores y es precisamente el enfoque multisectorial de esta iniciativa que ha permitido un avance eficiente, efectivo y sostenible. Aunque todavía queda mucho por hacer, este esfuerzo es un paso más para seguir fortaleciendo el ecosistema GovTech en Costa Rica y en toda la región.   Para más información sobre la implementación de la iniciativa visita la parte II de esta serie de blogs: https://tfaoea.wordpress.com/2022/08/17/parte-ii-gestion-de-tramites-publicos-un-avance-hacia-su-simplificacion-y-digitalizacion/     

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