Digital Skills for a Brighter Future: by providing access to knowledge and opportunities, digital inclusion prepares young people for the challenges of the job market.
Today, talking about digital inclusion means talking about opportunity. Lack of access to the internet, computers, and tech knowledge can limit the future of millions of Brazilians. With this vision, the Ramacrisna Institute is dedicated to combating digital exclusion, offering young people and adults the tools they need to enter the job market and, above all, to feel part of an increasingly connected world.
Digital inclusion goes beyond ensuring internet access. It means opening doors to knowledge and new perspectives. In a country where nearly 40 million people are still disconnected, many are left behind. To change this reality, Ramacrisna offers a comprehensive structure of courses, workshops, and even computer donations so that children, adolescents, and young adults feel truly prepared and confident in the face of digital demands.
The digital inclusion promoted by the Ramacrisna Institute begins at the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center (CAER), where children aged 6 to 15 have access to technological resources such as digital tables and boards. Additionally, they take basic computer classes and have free time in the internet room to complete school assignments, play games, and access social media, creating a closer, more hands-on relationship with technology from an early age.
In the preparatory course for Young Apprentices, called “Young People for the Future,” teenagers aged 14 and up receive 20 hours of computer training, preparing them to use essential digital tools for the job market. Once hired as apprentices, they go through an initial theoretical training period of 20 days, which includes an additional 20 hours of basic computer training to equip them with the foundational skills needed to perform their duties competently and confidently.
For teenagers aged 16 and older, there’s a professional qualification course. In the Computer Operator course, students begin with computer basics, such as using Microsoft Office and browsing the internet safely. They then learn to assemble, install, and repair computers and receive training to provide support for local computer networks and configure equipment and software. For many young people, this is their first encounter with a computer, and they come to understand that these tools can open numerous doors.
During classes, students repair computers donated by companies. In addition to learning computer maintenance, these repaired machines are donated to children at the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center (CAER). Distribution is done through a raffle among those who attend all workshops and do not have a computer at home.
In the Programming and Game Development and AutoCAD courses, students learn programming logic concepts using variables and functions, decision and control commands, loops, and database management according to current market standards. The classes are entirely hands-on, and activities are conducted dynamically and engagingly, fostering creativity, logical reasoning, and student autonomy.
Looking to the Future of Work Ramacrisna believes that investing in digital inclusion allows young people to play an active role in society. This way, they can feel empowered to create, undertake, and dream. For many, this first encounter with technology is a turning point, as they begin to see the future differently, discovering fields like innovation and even entrepreneurship.
Today, almost every profession involves some digital skills, and young people graduating from Ramacrisna’s courses are prepared for this reality. Thus, they can pursue successful careers in technology or excel in other fields, with knowledge as a differentiating factor.
By gaining access to technology and knowledge, young people not only learn technical skills but also gain the confidence to pursue a better future for themselves and their communities. After all, to include is to believe that everyone has the potential to change the world—and Ramacrisna is making that happen every day.
You, too, can help continue this chain of good. Get in touch and learn how to contribute.
