Digital Equity for Rural Youth

Creating Digital Equity Opportunities for Youth in a Rural Georgia Community

The Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center aims to bridge the technology gap in Portal, Bulloch County GA, created by economic inequity and rural poverty. In partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, Georgia Southern University, Nordson Corporation, and Tech Corps, the Techie Camp was hosted in the summer of 2023 for at-risk youth. Approximately 45 elementary and middle school students participated in a free all-day camp, learning computer coding, robotics, and app development.

The intern for this project, Sierra, worked with students and staff members to help with coursework, activities, and recreation. Youth enrolled in the camp had little to no exposure to computer science before the camp and Sierra provided technical support. At the completion of the camp, Sierra helped develop a detailed report on the camper’s progress to be used to be used in promotions of future Techie Camp programs.

With the help of an intern, a free Techie Camp was provided to at-risk youth to bridge the technology gap in Portal, Georgia. To view a larger image of this presentation, click here.