As Tech Changemaker National Ambassador, 4-H Teen Helps Bridge the Digital Divide

Zamaria Kinsey, a 4-H Tech Changemaker, teaches digital skills to older adults in Gates County. Zamaria was recently selected as one of only three National Ambassadors for the program.

SUNBURY, N.C – Fifteen-year-old Zamaria Kinsey understands the digital divide because she has faced it herself. 

“We don’t have the best internet out here,” said the 4-H teen who lives in rural Gates County in northeastern North Carolina. “I know about using Wi-Fi in public places. This program was a chance for me to help my community.”  

The program is 4-H Tech Changemakers, an initiative launched by the National 4-H Council and supported by Verizon, Tractor Supply Company, and Microsoft. Tech Changemakers trains and equips teens to use their own tech savvy to teach adults skills that can help them find jobs or obtain better jobs, including how to use digital resources for job searches, software skills, and how to market themselves on social media. Zamaria was already a 4-H member who had experienced a week at Space Camp in Huntsville, AL when she learned about Tech Changemakers from Keli Boone, the 4-H agent in Gates County. 

“When we were thinking about youth who might benefit from Tech Changemakers, Zamaria popped into my mind,” said Boone. “She had already done outreach at the library about space and she jumped right into this.” 

Zamaria not only flourished as a Tech Changemaker, she impressed the 4-H leadership so much that she was named a 2023 4-H Tech Changemaker National Ambassador. As one of three national ambassadors, she serves as a spokesperson for the program and brings attention to the problems it addresses, such as a lack of digital skills and connectivity in underserved rural communities.  

Becoming a Tech Changemaker required online training in digital literacy and software skills as well as teaching and communication skills. According to Kyra Faith Wharton, who trained the Tech Changemakers as part of her job at National 4-H Council, Zamaria stood out from the beginning. 

“I was impressed with her quiet strength and her complete resolve,” said Faith Warton, who has since left her National 4-H Council position but still stays in touch with Zamaria. “She came to us ready to go. She had a strong focus and the more she upped her game, the more others responded. She didn’t ‘hog the ball;’ she was engaging and inviting.” 

Since becoming a Tech Changemaker in 2022, Zamaria has conducted in-person training for adults on computer basics, online searching, and using software such as the Microsoft Office suite. As a national ambassador, she helps to raise the visibility of the program and amplify the cause of bridging the digital divide. 

“People can get shut out of opportunities if they can’t get on the internet,” said Warton. “It’s daunting, but teenagers like Zamaria deal with it every day.” 

For a 15 year old, teaching to students who are as old as your parents and grandparents might be daunting, but Zamaria overcame her nervousness and also developed into a tech troubleshooter, since technical challenges are common in Gates County. 

“I was raised by my mom and grandma, so working with older people isn’t a problem for me,” she said. “Gates County is small, and everyone knows everyone else. So teaching adults here isn’t that hard. They’re my neighbors.” 

Last fall, she led a training program for a roomful of participants, including executives from Verizon who came to learn more about the program they support. She has also conducted workshops at the county recreation department and the community center and has several more scheduled for the summer. 

“The program has opened up a lot of opportunities for me,” she said. “It’s helped me grow as a person and it builds my patience when dealing with difficult people. I’ve learned to adapt and work with people at different levels. Seeing them grow inspires me to do more.” 

Boone said she has seen Zamaria grow, too. Her public speaking skills have improved and she keeps training programs moving, and even when faced with technical problems, solves them with a smile. 

“People see her and see that they are Zamaria,” said Boone. “They have to go to the library when (internet) service is wonky, and she understands that. She is everyone in Gates County struggling to get on the internet. She has turned a negative into a positive.” 

Zamaria’s mother, Lakisha Saunders, said when COVID-19 hit, she’d never done a Zoom call and had limited computer skills. Her daughter helped her become computer literate and still helps her with computer and cell phone advice.  

“It’s been an amazing journey for her,” said Saunders. “She’s been patient and shown empathy. I’m just so proud of everything she is doing and how she is giving back to the community.” 

Soon to be a junior at Gates County High School, Zamaria is a member of ROTC and is considering entering the military after graduation. Until then, she will continue teaching and spreading the word about 4-H Tech Changemakers. Among her upcoming programs is participation in a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) conference in Rocky Mount, where she will teach adults about online security. 

“I like to give back to my community. It helps people and it’s helped me meet people and make connections,” she said. 

Her work, and the work of Tech Changemakers across North Carolina and the U.S., can make a difference and help build that bridge across the digital divide, according to Wharton. 

“If you don’t have connectivity your voice is silenced and your story is minimized,” she said. “This provides digital skills that can help communities harness their voices.”