Maxwell School, Peer to Peer Using ICT to Enhance Governance in Indigenous Guatemalan Communities Cesar Perez, Humphrey Fellow Patzún, Guatemala, with a 94% indigenous Maya Kaqchikel population and an economy based on agriculture and handicraft, started a technology program to address the digital divide while still maintaining its traditions. A “digital democracy zone” promoted transparency and citizen engagement and included a community computer center and free internet in the town’s public square. Because of this program, Patzún’s citizens and the local government were empowered through the use of ICT and ICT-based applications, which improved citizens’ quality of life and governance processes. In his presentation, Humphrey Fellow Cesar Perez discusses these innovative initiatives and their impact. Mr. Cesar L. Perez Carrera was most recently the Technology Program Officer at the International Republican Institute (IRI). He was responsible for building local technical capacity and facilitating access to innovative information and communications technology tools (ICTs) in order to improve public administration in Central America. Mr. Perez wishes to study technological issues confronting society, including effective strategies for dealing with business and government. He holds a B.S. in computer science from Iwate University in Japan, and an IT Master Executive from the Universidad Salamanca in Spain.

• published: 14 Oct 2014
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