Yüda ayüda, a nonprofit organization marking its first anniversary, is introducing a new initiative to increase technology access for rural and working families in the Central Valley. The program, called Cafecito y Computadoras (“Coffee and Computers”), will provide bilingual digital skills and AI literacy classes to as many as 300 residents across Stanislaus County.
“Yüda ayuda is not duplicating existing work, we are filling a critical gap,” said co-founder Karlha Arias. “From classrooms to boardrooms, we are making sure technology serves our communities instead of leaving them behind. And we are doing it in English and Spanish, with compassion and corazón.”
Classes will be available both in the mornings and evenings through partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations. The initiative is funded by the California Public Utilities Commission as well as the Stanislaus Community Foundation’s Adelante Fund. The organization is also seeking further sponsorship from the community to extend its reach.
Interested individuals can register for the classes at www.yuda.io/basics. The sessions are set to begin in mid-January. Participants who complete the eight-hour course and meet low-income requirements—such as having an EBT card or signed waiver—will be eligible for a free device to continue their digital learning.
Yüda ayüda was established in July 2024 by Daisy Mayorga, a computer scientist, and Arias, a rural community activist. Their personal experiences of exclusion within the technology sector informed their approach; Latinas account for only 2% of workers in this field.
The founders noted that many in their communities face barriers such as difficulty navigating school online portals, accessing app-based healthcare systems, or being unable to use digital services required for daily life.
“Technology can open doors we never thought possible,” Mayorga said. “As a Latina in computer science, I’ve often been the only one in the room, and I know how isolating that feels. With yüda ayuda, my hope is that our communities won’t just be invited in, they’ll feel like they truly belong.”
The group’s BUILD framework—Begin with Basics, Understand Tools, Invest in Learning, Link with Communities and Develop Solutions—aims to provide a structured approach for individuals and organizations to build digital skills and confidence.
In addition to public classes, yüda ayüda works with small businesses and nonprofits through technology audits and workshops focused on digital skills and AI understanding.
According to projections from global research such as those published by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, nearly 39% of workers’ current skills could become outdated by 2030 as technology evolves (https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025). Yüda ayüda aims to help rural and working-class families adapt as workplace demands change.
