According to PRODESSA, who has been working in the Zona Reyna since 2002, the region contains about eighty Mayan-speaking Q´eqchi´ communities. Ravaged by civil war during the 1980s, the Zona Reyna has been essentially abandoned by the government for the past two decades.
     By putting cameras into the hands of those who experience poverty, political unrest, and difficult living conditions on a daily basis, Project Einstein allows Q´eqchi´ Mayan youth to depict their plight in a deeply personal way. However, the collection of images produced by the young photographers tends to highlight the brighter aspects of life in the Zona Reyna instead. According to Emma Hulse, the coordinator of Project Einstein Guatemala, the region is war-torn, but also “characterized by vibrant community, a wealth of tradition, and a growing population of educated young people”. Likewise, the project’s pictures reveal smiles shared between friends and family, vibrant colors, and the hushed, collaborative huddle of the classroom.
     Project Einstein Guatemala’s pictures are currently being displayed online and throughout the community. While it remains to be seen if they will be used to facilitate direct dialogue between the Zona Reyna and other communities around the world, the fact remains that this inspired initiative is working to fulfill Digital Democracy’s goal, both here and abroad, of creating “informed and engaged citizens in the 21st century”.