We’re bridging the digital divide
for Guatemala’s students.
To move the needle, we move computers… and skills.
The Challenge:
Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Computer skills are in high demand in the labor market and provide a well-defined path out of poverty – for a student with access to a computer. But since the new government recently described half of all school buildings as “deplorable”, it is no surprise that fewer than 5% of public schools have computers. The Ministry of Education requires a computer competency certificate to complete middle school, but the cost of a course at a private academy – the only option — is problematic for modest families already wrestling with other costs including hourly fees at for-profit internet centers.
The Solution:
To build computer literacy in Guatemala as quickly and cheaply as possible, we acquire retired laptops from generous corporations and ship them for $10 each. They reach our Tactic, Alta Verapaz headquarters duty- and tax-free. Our classroom facility also hosts an affordable laptop rental program for students in and around Tactic. In January 2026, our government-accredited Academy will begin to offer affordable computer and English courses for middle-school students and others at a low cost. From Tactic, we colaborate with an isolated indigenous secondary school, where our computers helped drive a 50% enrollment increase in 2024. We have a strong relationship with a youth program in nearby San Cristóbal and have equipped two rural schools. And we have big plans!
Take look at our projects
CHAPTOPS TACTIC
At our headquarters in Tactic, we maintain a classroom facility from which we also operate an affordable laptop rental program for more than XX students. In addition to classes for our acredited academy, we offer vacation course in things like Raspberry Pi programming and 3D printing.
CASASITO
In San Cristóbal Verapaz, just down the road from Tactic, Chaptops has helped expand computer offerings at an extremely successful youth development program with a twenty-year record of success. Chaptops and CasaSito are planning innovative collaborations in 2024
IMACK
In isolated Nimlajacoc, Chaptops has placed 35 laptops at Instituto Maya Comunitario Kamolbe — soon one for each student and teacher. As a result, the faculty received approval to grant certification in computer skills, and enrollment increased by one-half.
Chaptops has partnered with two rural indigenous schools to provide computers: one supported by a small community-run eco-resort, and another at a Catholic mission near the Mexican border.
Please join us as we work for our vision of a Guatemala with equitable access to computers for all students.
We can help you make a big difference with just $10!
Your gift is already matched 15+ times by a computer donation from a generous corporate donor.