These initiatives promote citizenship, income generation, education, and access to healthcare through connectivity and the refurbishment of electronic equipment.
In a scenario where geographical distance and lack of infrastructure often isolate entire communities, technology is becoming the bridge to a new era of development in the Amazon. The live event “Connected Amazon,” promoted by ABES on March 11th, revealed how digital inclusion projects are combating inequality and creating real opportunities for riverside communities, indigenous people, and quilombola communities.
The power of reverse logistics
One of the pillars of the project is the mobilization focused on the responsible disposal of IT equipment, such as laptops, tablets, racks, etc. Through the partnership with... Reurbi, In the software and technology sector, companies are repurposing obsolete equipment which, after a rigorous certification and reverse manufacturing process, is given a new life. This is the project... Amazonia: More Digital and Less Unequal, the result of a strategic partnership between REURBI, ABES and the Ministry of the Environment.
Second Aline Galvão, Institutional Director of Reurbi and the Reurbi Institute for Sociodigital Inclusion, the initiative has already collected 370 tons of equipment through the partnership with ABES, resulting in the donation of more than 1,000 refurbished computers. This effort not only mitigates environmental impact by preventing the emission of greenhouse gases, but also fuels social projects that bring computer labs to the most remote regions of the country. The impact goes far beyond simply having a computer in hand.
The project “"Amazon Network More Connected"”, presented by Daniel Grynberg, director of the Mais Unidos Group, connected 600 homes in 62 communities in western Pará. The focus is on proving that internet access in rural areas is a tool for territorial development.
Preliminary data from the program show an immediate economic impact: connected families experienced a average increase of R$ 500.00 in your monthly income. With internet access, local producers can use Pix (Brazil's instant payment system), promote community-based tourism, and manage their harvests more efficiently. Furthermore, telemedicine has become a reality, allowing medical consultations to be conducted remotely, reducing the isolation of these populations.
Stories of transformation
For those on the cutting edge, technology is synonymous with a dream come true. Micah Saints, a Socio-environmental Consultant in the Amazon (REURBI) and native of the region, reported how the arrival of the equipment mobilizes the communities: “Community leaders and young people come together to prepare the space, paint, and receive the materials.” He himself is a living example of the impact: he graduated through distance learning (EAD) thanks to access to a computer in the Rio Purus region.
In the Juruti region (PA), Elber Diniz, Project Manager for the Amazon Region of the + Unidos Group, He emphasizes that connectivity guarantees the right to basic citizenship, such as issuing documents and accessing government portals. "This doesn't make people any less Amazonian or any less indigenous. But it takes away a right that is theirs," he stated.
Challenge and future
Despite the progress, the challenge remains immense. With nearly 30 million people living in the Amazon, infrastructure is still insufficient. Current projects serve as an evidence-based model to influence large-scale public policy.
Rodolfo Fücher, vice-president of the ABES board, reinforces that the association's purpose is a "More Digital and Less Unequal Brazil". The next step is to expand the donor network, encouraging companies of all sizes to allocate their electronic waste to projects that literally open windows to the world in the middle of the jungle.
How to help:
Companies interested in donating equipment or supporting training projects can get in touch:
Contact for equipment donations for Amazonia: More Digital and Less Unequal:
aline@reurbi.com.br | contato@reurbi.com.br
Contact for partnerships with More United Group:
daniel.grynberg@maisunidos.org | contato@maisunidos.org
To watch the live stream in its entirety, go to [link]. “"Connected Amazon: digital inclusion, social innovation and territorial development": https://www.youtube.com/live/-ONi2MKOdqg?si=yilMXpkml0mFhmPc
