Nine youth complete Digital Culture For the Caribbean Project (CL.AU.DI.A)

A cohort of nine young artisans in Dominica has successfully graduated from the innovative CL.AU.DI.A. (Cultura Digital Antilliana / Digital Culture in the Antilles) project, marking a significant milestone in Caribbean digital education. The certificate award ceremony and a mini exhibition showcasing their achievements were hosted at Prevo Cinemall on February 7, 2026.

This ambitious three-year initiative (2023–2025), funded under the Erasmus+ programme, was established to enhance professional training in digital culture across the Caribbean region. It represented a unique international collaboration between a consortium of organizations including ARCS – ARCI Culture Solidali APS (Italy), D’Antilles et D’Ailleurs (Martinique), Asociación Hermanos Saíz (Cuba), Centro Nacional para la Superación de la Cultura (Cuba), Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas (Cuba), École Supérieure d’Infotronique d’Haïti (Haiti), and the Dominica Arts and Crafts Producers Association (DACPA).

From July 2024 to December 2025, DACPA spearheaded the project’s core educational phases in Dominica. The implementation began with an intensive ‘Training of Trainers’ program, where facilitators utilized digital platforms like WhatsApp and Google Meet to master the curriculum and pedagogical approaches. Following this preparatory stage, a recruitment drive successfully enrolled nine young participants for the pilot program.

Vanessa Winston, President of DACPA, highlighted the project’s adaptability in overcoming logistical hurdles, including local transportation and scheduling conflicts. By transitioning the program to a fully virtual and online format, the association ensured uninterrupted and complete participation. The educational model employed a dedicated mentorship system, pairing each trainee with a trainer for personalized guidance and support.

The project’s culmination featured significant international engagement, with selected DACPA representatives and program participants traveling to Cuba. There, they attended the final project conference, an exhibition, and participated in the official signing of the CL.AU.DI.A Network agreement, cementing a lasting framework for continued regional cooperation in digital cultural development.