Solar Community Hub, Mexico

Squire and Partners were approached by Computer Aid to design a prototype Solar Community Hub as an improvement on their existing series of mobile units providing internet connectivity to remote communities without access to mains electricity. The Hub exists to provide a safe environment where local young people can develop social and digital skills.

Solar Community Hub was launched in Xalapa, Mexico and Mexico City, Mexico. The youth living in these areas have been traditionally served by the public education system and therefore in most cases, they are deprived of a good quality education and access to new technology and much-needed ICT skills to compete with more privileged youth from private schools in other areas of the city. The socio-economic gap is still hindering the change of many of the youth in the city.

Our aim is to run the Solar Community Hub at the Escuela Benito Juarez Elementary School located in the Reforma district; this will not only impact the students at the school but will also benefit the whole community by giving them access to quality learning experiences.