In Guatemala, digital transformation achieves meaningful results when people are able to use technology in ways that improve their daily lives. For many communities, this goes beyond merely having access to devices—it requires the skills, confidence, and support necessary to navigate an increasingly digital world. “My First Digital Steps” is designed around this people-centred approach, aiming to ensure that technology strengthens independence, opportunity, and participation rather than reinforcing existing inequalities. The initiative is jointly implemented by UNDP, UNESCO, and UNICEF, with funding from the Joint SDG Fund supported by the European Union and sixteen Member States.
Between October and November 2025, hands-on workshops were conducted in partnership with the municipalities of Salcajá, La Esperanza, and Olintepeque in Quetzaltenango. The sessions targeted women entrepreneurs, young people, and older adults, many of whom face educational, territorial, or generational barriers to digital participation. The focus was on practical skills rather than technology for its own sake, helping participants use everyday digital tools safely, effectively, and in ways that empower them.
During the workshops, participants learned to install and use mobile applications, share photos and videos, create personalized stickers for small businesses, identify digital fraud, explore artificial intelligence tools, and leverage solutions like WhatsApp Business. Over seven sessions, approximately 217 people took part, most of whom were women, and more than half identified as members of the Maya peoples. The training strengthened not only technical skills but also confidence, autonomy, and motivation, helping participants view the digital world as accessible and navigable on their own terms.
For entrepreneur Nancy Chulú, founder of Happy Studio Accesorios, the program enabled her to build a community around her business, offer tutorials, and connect directly with customers. Her experience reflects a broader transformation in which digital skills translate into visibility, economic resilience, and stronger connections within communities.
Programs like “My First Digital Steps” address digital transformation at its roots, helping reduce technological gaps, strengthen civic participation, expand access to online government services, and lay the foundation for more advanced initiatives, including future municipal-level use of artificial intelligence. True digital transformation begins when people are given the opportunity to explore and adopt digital tools at their own pace, supported in ways that respect their realities, ambitions, and aspirations.
