Carmen Castillo

Peruvian social entrepreneur empowering Indigenous communities through digital literacy

Carmen Castillo, born in Ayacucho, Peru in 1975, has dedicated her career to bridging the digital divide in Andean communities. Her 2003 initiative Saberes Sin Fronteras established 120+ community tech centers in remote regions, providing over 150,000 Indigenous Quechua and Aymara people with digital skills training. Castillo's work was pivotal in developing the Peruvian Ministry of Education's bilingual digital curriculum, now used in 800 schools. Her InDigital platform connects Indigenous artisans with global markets, generating $2.5M+ in fair trade revenue annually. Castillo's collaboration with MIT's Media Lab produced the Ayni Learning System, a culturally adaptive e-learning platform translated into 12 Indigenous languages. Her advocacy led to the 2018 UN Declaration on Indigenous Digital Rights. Castillo's story is chronicled in the documentary "Bits and Baskets", which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Her impact extends to policy influence through her role in the OAS Indigenous Rights Commission.