Imagine a world without digital. No smartphones, no laptops, no Zoom, no internet—just silence between continents and communities. Now picture the moment digital arrives and accelerates at lightning speed. But pause and ask: Does every country share the same resources? Can everyone benefit equally from this revolution? Is every voice included? You already know the answer—digital progress is not universal. And that’s where the real story begins. Let’s hear from Arita Arania Phillip, a UN Volunteer from Antigua and Barbuda.
“The first of January 1983 is the internet’s birthday. At that time, Antigua and Barbuda, where I call home, had only been independent for a little over a year. Many Small Island Developing States (SIDS), due to our small country size, population, and our separation by water, struggled to develop economically and therefore transform digitally. On the other hand, countries with economies of scale, developed infrastructure and high capital were able to transform at a rapid pace and at a lower cost.