Accessing
the internet from school is impossible for more than 200 million people in
Latin America. The World Bank reports that 32% of the population in Latin
America and the Caribbean lacks internet access, and 46% live in rural areas.
The situation in educational centers is even worse, according to the
institution, which calls for public-private solutions to address the issue.
Karim Rifai
Burneo (Peru, 32) has launched Uayki, a comprehensive wireless digital
connectivity system that does not require internet access to function. Instead,
it uses asynchronous local networks to provide users with access to a digital
library containing millions of educational and cultural resources, along with
platforms offering certified courses, mobile app downloads, information and
commercial bulletins, surveys, and more, all without requiring a constant
connection to the backbone network.
The library
can be updated whenever a Wi-Fi connection is available, and each school can
customize which content is made available on the platform to ensure it aligns
with their educational goals. It’s a paid solution, but significantly less
costly than bringing full internet connectivity to rural areas.
In terms of
access, the system provides more than two million educational and cultural
resources and offers over 100 certified courses in areas such as STEAM skills,
culture, entrepreneurship, well-being, and economic development. “Our
solution aims to close the digital divide in rural and remote communities in
Latin America, where access to internet and digital tools is extremely limited.
In countries like Guatemala and Peru, over 50,000 schools lack digital
connectivity. This affects not only education but also access to information,
tools for economic development, and communication opportunities within the
community,” says Rifai Burneo, an economist from Suffolk University who is
currently completing a specialization in Telecommunications Engineering at the
National University of San Marcos.
Before
entering university, Karim discovered the power of internet platforms that
allowed him to access information from anywhere. Google, YouTube, Wikipedia,
and Coursera opened a world of possibilities for this entrepreneur. “These
experiences awakened in me the desire to find solutions and inspired me to do
something meaningful, knowing that technology has the potential to deliver
scalable and effective answers,” he recalls.
To date,
the Uayki system has been deployed across 16 regions in Guatemala and Peru,
directly benefiting more than 32,000 people, primarily students, teachers, and
rural community members. According to studies conducted with 1,967 students
over a 12-month period, Uayki has led to measurable improvements: a 21.6%
increase in reading comprehension, a 22.3% improvement in digital skills, a
20.8% boost in general knowledge, and an 18.1% gain in STEAM-related abilities.
Rifai
Burneo hopes to expand the solution to other Latin American countries. “I see
the future of Uayki as an essential platform to close the digital divide, not just in Guatemala and Peru, but in many regions around the world facing the
same challenges of connectivity and access to information. Our vision is to
expand to more countries in Latin America and to become the leading solution
for underserved communities, offering not only access to education and culture,
but also tools for economic development and community well-being,” he explains.
The
Peruvian edition of Forbes has featured Rifai Burneo’s philanthropic
project, which has received multiple awards and honors. In 2023, he won a
S/400,000 prize from the Ministry of Production of Peru and was recognized by
the national Congress for his contributions to digital education
during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also been named one of the 35 Innovators
Under 35 by MIT Technology Review in Spanish.
