Topic: 2026 – Digital Equity for Children
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Lucia Ruiz
2/8/26
Submitted To: UNICEF
From: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Lucia Ruiz
Subject: Digital Equity for Children
Digital equity in Venezuela among children has been brought to attention multiple times in the last few decades. With the rise of online learning the need for electronics like computers/chromebooks has risen significantly alongside the growth of the internet. The vast amount of resources online outweighs the physical resources and creates both a need and a desire for digital media.
Digital equity starts with electrical infrastructure. If the electrical infrastructure is in poor condition then it makes accessing the internet much harder. Venezuela experiences power blackouts often due to lack of proper maintenance which has created fragile infrastructure. While Venezuela’s power generation is renewable the improper maintenance has forced citizens to rely on other forms of electricity like generators which are usually fuel based. The national electricity generation capacity is 34GW but currently we are only able to use 18GW, heavily relying on the Guri hydroelectric plant which generates 10GW out of the 18GW capacity.
The access to electronics also varies throughout the population. Although many families have internet data plans, smartphones,and likely a laptop at home it is important to ensure that students have access to computers at school. Ensuring that students have access to computers at school will allow for basic digital literacy skills. If our students are taught digital literacy skills now it will set them up for success in the future in turn creating a bright future for our country. Teaching digital literacy will provide safety for the children online as well on top of laws already put in place.
Our main priority as a country should be 1) To ensure reliable access to the internet in school 2) Guarantee students have access to computers for digital learning. 3) Teaching digital literacy. This includes updating laws for proper maintenance and reforming old electric infrastructure. Additionally addressing the lack of funds to power plants as well. Even though a large percentage of our students have access to digital media it is important we reach the small percentage too.
Work Cited
Argus Media. “Venezuela Upheaval Could Crack Open Power Sector.” Latest Market News, 9 Jan. 2026, www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2774174-venezuela-upheaval-could-crack-open-power-sector.
Ascione, Laura. “The Digital Divide Still Holds Students Back.” eSchool News, 7 Aug. 2024, www.eschoolnews.com/educational-leadership/2024/08/07/the-digital-divide-still-holds-students-back.
“Eyewitness Venezuela: Digital Literacy Free to All Students.” Liberation News, Rachell Tucker, 4 Aug. 2021, liberationnews.org/eyewitness-venezuela-digital-literacy-free-to-all-students.
