FUERM and the Federation of Municipalities present the results of this initiative after a year of joint work
The Digital Rural Challenge project successfully concludes after transforming rural classrooms into spaces for learning, coexistence, and opportunities.
What began just over a year ago as a project to bring technology to the smallest municipalities in the Region of Murcia has become a real transformation story for almost 1.000 people.
The Digital Rural Challenge project, promoted by the University-Business Foundation of the Region of Murcia (FUERM) and the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM), celebrates its final event today after having brought training in digital skills to more than 30 municipalities and villages, reaching 987 students in 45 training editions.
The event was inaugurated with a speech by the Minister of Economy, Finance, European Funds and Transformation, Luis Alberto Marín González, putting the finishing touch on a project that has not only taught how to use digital tools, but has also opened up new opportunities in rural areas.
But beyond the numbers, the project has made a difference in people's lives. Older adults have learned to manage things online for the first time, women have gained digital independence, and young people have found new tools for their future careers.
In many of these municipalities, classrooms have not only been spaces for learning, but also for gathering. Places where different generations have shared knowledge and experiences, creating community around something as everyday—and yet as necessary—as the use of technology. FUERM was responsible for the training, and its representative, Miguel López González de León, explained that:
The Digital Rural Challenge has been made possible through the collaboration between FUERM and the Federation of Municipalities, with the support of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and funding from European funds. This cooperative model has allowed training to reach those who need it most: municipalities with fewer than 5.000 inhabitants and rural districts with limited access to digital resources.
One of the program's distinguishing features has been its practical approach. Each participant has received a tablet, not only as a tool during the course, but also as a gateway to a new digital environment in their daily lives.
The social impact of the project is also reflected in the data: 764 women have participated in the training compared to 223 men, and 60 people with disabilities have been able to access these courses, reinforcing its inclusive nature.
During the final event, which brings together institutional representatives and participating municipalities, a video summary of the project is shown and awards are presented to the municipalities involved, in recognition of their key role in the development of the training activities.
The president of the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia, Víctor Manuel López Abenza, highlighted the human value of the project and the joint work of all the institutions involved:
“Today is not just a closing ceremony, it is the reflection of collective work, a shared commitment and a way of understanding the public-private partnership from the perspective of proximity and real utility for our neighbors.”
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of having reached "more than 30 municipalities and villages", highlighting the role of the local councils as a key element in making the project a reality on the ground.
The Digital Rural Challenge concludes with a clear message: when technology comes closer to people, the rural world responds.
