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Taking an AEI Para Ti class together.
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Elgui from ICM teaches the pilot champions how to use the ICM curriculum on the crosses.
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[av_heading tag=’h1′ padding=’10’ heading=’Something New to Do’ color=’custom-color-heading’ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=’#0469ce’ size=’28’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”][/av_heading]
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La Vijía is a rural community in Puerto Plata.
After getting off the main highway, our SUV bounced up the gravel road for 10 minutes before I shouted, “STOP! That’s it!”
The Baptist church, which also serves as a place of refuge for traveling visitors, is the well-known landmark declaring we’ve arrived to La Vijía. The rest of the community is behind the church, only accessible by dirt walking paths. I walked up one, hopping over donkey and pig dung, calling out hellos to house members as I passed.
The decision to choose the Baptist church in La Vijía as one of the 4 recipients of our digital solutions pilot with ICM was an easy one. Community members are friendly, responsible, and truly care about one another. Simultaneously, lack of economic opportunities in the community caused widespread poverty, resulting in lack of access to the “outside world.” It costs 50 pesos, $1 US dollar, to get to the main road by motorcycle, and then another $1 US dollar to get to the nearest city on a bus that only sometimes comes. This means a $4 round trip and hours of time to get to a city, which is far too expensive for many community members who make around $120 a month. Given their lack of access, many also lack the necessary skills and education to invent new work for themselves and help develop their communities.
Enter our new digital solutions pilot with International Cooperating Ministries (ICM).
We taught Edward, the Young Adults leader at the church, how to use a small mobile projector, which has 10 business classes, 1 class on dental healthcare, 215 Bible Institute classes (by ICM) and several movies. The projector can connect to Bluetooth and WIFI, and has almost 2 hours of battery life before needing to be plugged in.
We also took all the content from the projector and put it onto small “cross” USBs that can be inserted into most smart phones so community members can take classes at home.
Edward, his neighbors, and the church community were thrilled. Edward learns quickly, and rapidly connected his Bluetooth speaker to the projector. His wife, Joselyn, expressed how fascinating and fun learning is. In such a remote community, there’s not much to do during the evenings. Learning together, using the projector, is something new and fun for this community to do together.
During our premiere of the pilot the 6th of November, over 31 people watched classes together. Even more encouraging, in the last week, 36 people came out to watch a movie outside in a nearby basketball court. 8 people have rented the cross USBs to take classes at home, and will report back with what they’ve learned next week. In a community of less than 200 people, reaching over 20% of them in a week is an incredible start.
There’s something new to do in La Vijía and its gaining momentum!
Follow us to see what happens next in La Vijía!
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