Afro-Venezuelan kids are getting the chance to learn new technologies through programs launched by their country’s Ministry of Science and Technology. In the predominantly Black San José de Barlovento region, the government, last year, opened the Cimarrón Guillermo Rivas Mega Robotics Center, a community center where kids are taught basic STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) concepts.
The Cimarrón Guillermo Rivas Mega Robotics Center serves as a community hub; it is designed to empower local youth by providing them with a space where they can learn science and technological skills and use them for tasks relevant to their lives.
“Our programs go beyond robotics,” said Adriany Guaramato, the center’s coordinator. “We also teach basic electronics, 3D printing, office automation, social media for education, and other ICT (information and communication technologies) skills. These initiatives are designed to improve digital literacy and technological abilities among local youth.”
Guaramato told the AmNews that since July 2024, over 870 young people — ranging from children to young adults — have participated in its programs, with the majority aged 7 to 18. She said that the center offers a diverse curriculum.
Named after Guillermo Rivas — an Afro-Venezuelan who freed himself from slavery in the 1700s and founded the Cumbe de Ocoyta, a maroon society that was located in what is now Barlovento — the center is named in honor of a legacy of resistance and cultural pride. Its mission is to inspire youth of African descent by fostering technical competence while strengthening Afro-Venezuelan identity.
Venezuela has one of the largest populations of people of African descent in South America, behind only Brazil and Colombia. According to the 2011 national census, nearly 51% of the Venezuelan population identifies as Afro-Venezuelan, and around 30% of the nation’s total population is under 15 years of age.
That age group has been a successful focus for the Rivas Center, Garamonto says.
“The center serves a diverse demographic, including children, young adults, and older community members, but most participants are between 7 and 18 years old,” he explained. “From July 2024 to now, a total of 426 young women and 445 young men have participated in our programs.”
To increase interest in science and technology, the government has established around 900 educational robotics hubs across the country, many within Afro-descendant neighborhoods. As part of the broader National Scientific Seedbeds Program (Programa Nacional Semilleros Científicos), the goal is to promote early engagement in science, innovation, engineering, and technology — key areas for national development — and to bridge the digital divide.
Guaramato explained that the center’s work not only develops technical abilities but also reinforces cultural identity and pride among Afro-Venezuelan youth. Special efforts are directed toward empowering girls and women of African descent and addressing gender gaps in STEM fields. She believes the Robotic Center’s initiatives help build confidence, sovereignty, and a sense of ownership for Barlovento’s children over their technological and cultural futures.
The Venezuelan government has a goal of establishing 3,000 of these kinds of technology hubs nationwide. They are meant to symbolize a commitment to inclusive development — where cultural identity and technological progress go hand-in-hand — ensuring that Afro-Venezuelan youth are not left behind in the country’s technological future.
“In addition to skill-building, the center’s work helps strengthen Afro-descendant identity by raising awareness and promoting the inclusion of Afro-descendant communities in the technological future,” said Guaramato. “The programs build confidence, sovereignty, and cultural pride. Special efforts focus on empowering girls and women of African descent and addressing gender gaps in STEM fields.”
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