Young Dominicans engage with the latest digital technology trends in regional programme

• Seeds for the Future offers a comprehensive experience for students from any field of study.
• As well as learning about ICT, participants receive training in business and soft skills.

Santo Domingo. Hilary Robles and Kamila Chantal Acevedo Rodríguez, two young Dominican women who took part in Seeds for the Future, the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility programme of Huawei, describe their participation as an enriching experience.

The aim of this regional initiative is to nurture talent in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), as well as to build bridges between countries and cultures through scholarships, academic competitions, online courses, training and digital opportunities.

Hilary happily recounts her experience in 2022: “My experience in Seeds for the Future was one of great growth. Learning, meeting new people and doing things I had never thought I could do is something I can’t put into words.”

This participant, who has already graduated in Industrial Engineering, says she became interested in the initiative to get closer to technology, as it is now the science present in every professional field.

As well as topics related to 5G, artificial intelligence, the cloud, fibre optics and renewable energy (digital power), Hilary noted that they also covered critical thinking and leadership, which she found very beneficial. “I learned about business and how to sell myself as a professional in a job market as competitive as today’s,” she said.

For her part, 21-year-old Kamila Chantal, who took part in Seeds for the Future 2023, gives young people this advice with a very positive attitude: “Keep seeking knowledge as well as opportunities; see moments of uncertainty in a positive light, so that you can find innovative solutions.”

The student, who is finishing her university degree in Business Management specialising in International Business, added that she found out about the programme through the social media of the Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies (OGTIC), and that not only the technological learning but also the soft skills developed during the classes will be of great value to her career.

In recent years, participants in this initiative have been challenged to produce innovative projects aimed at solving real problems with digital technologies.

Kamila Chantal explained that after the training they take part in a competition called “Tech For Good”, where they developed an idea using Huawei technology, within the goals of the 2030 Agenda, to solve a problem affecting their country, the region or the world. “As Dominicans, we wanted to focus on sargassum, a problem that affects the economy and the environment of the Dominican Republic,” explained the young woman, who sees herself in the future setting up foundations that work for the benefit of society.

“Experiencing technologies up close sparked my interest in applying the knowledge I gained in my community and solving social challenges,” says Kamila.

She also describes her participation in Seeds for the Future as enriching and great fun. Thanks to it, she was able to visit another country, meet people from other regions and learn about their culture, and interact with students from different degree programmes.

Huawei’s CEO in the Dominican Republic, Wang Wei, said Seeds for the Future has been offering digital technology training to young people in the region for ten years. “We thank institutions such as OGTIC, the Ministry of Youth and the universities that have trusted our vision of the ICT Talent Development Plan, which offers valuable opportunities to future leaders and local talent, helping communities close the digital divide.”

Huawei has awarded scholarships to a total of 2,000 students from Latin America and the Caribbean over the last ten years to take part in its immersive education programme and be exposed to the latest trends in digital technology.