Transforming Lives with Technology: An Interview with Dell's Philanthropy Manager for the Americas
Leonardo Tiarajú | Philanthropy Manager | Brazil
Originally Published: March 31, 2025
Meet Leonardo Tiarajú, Dell's Philanthropy Manager for the Americas, whose journey began in a vulnerable community in Brazil. Growing up in a cohab, since his childhood he was deeply involved in social projects as a student and later as a volunteer. His passion for social responsibility continued during his time in South Africa and Zimbabwe. In 2011, upon returning to Brazil, he seized the opportunity to join Dell in a role focused on improving lives and building a sustainable future. Using our technology and expertise to drive positive change for a better world is what makes him most passioned about Dell.
Today, his role is dedicated to transform the Dell’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy into practice through investments and putting our technology to generate social impact with nonprofit organizations that will create projects of digital inclusion, professional education and sustainability. One of these initiatives is the Solar Community Hubs. Discover more about this amazing initiative below.
I’ve been working with an incredible team of Dell professionals that have managed the relationship with different partners and stakeholders, as well as have worked with the local partner to implement the infrastructure and finding the right pathways for delivering the benefits to La Campana Altamira community.
Leonardo T.
Senior Advisor, Environmental, Social & Governance
Can you explain what the Solar Community Hubs are at Dell Technologies?
The Solar Community Hub (SCH) is a Dell signature program, which means that Dell is the founding organization, that is designed as a community center structured by two refurbished connected containers. They are powered by solar panels with Dell technology providing access to services such as digital literacy, professional training, university access, telemedicine and environmental monitoring to empower communities to thrive.
Can you share the vision behind Dell's Solar Community Hubs initiative?
The program has evolved throughout the years. It started as a digital lab focused only on education. Now, it’s providing access to a wide range of services to deeply transform the lives of people in remote areas or that lack access to opportunities. Today, there are 48 Solar Community Hubs in full operation in all five continents.
What kind of benefits do you expect the Solar Community Hubs to bring to the communities they serve?
Elevate the full potential that every single person has for creating better days and a better life for her/himself and for the community. The program brings more opportunity and more quality of life. It leverages more awareness about how we live and interact with our environment. It also empowers the people that can make a big difference to positively transform vulnerable communities.
How do you see these hubs impacting the environment, and what kind of positive change are you hoping to drive?
Some hubs are fully designed to protect the environment through the people that live there. That is the case of the Amazon SCH that is located in the middle of a forest reserve in the Amazon. We’ve trained community members in environmental legislation for monitoring. We also support families on the responsible agriculture with the use of the land and bring sustainable practices to them, mapping the heat areas and reporting to authorities. Lastly, now we are working to pilot the AI sound system that will identify fauna species for studying the health of the forest and supporting its preservation.
What was your impact on the launch of this new solar hub in Mexico?
I’ve been working with an incredible team of Dell professionals that have managed the relationship with different partners and stakeholders, as well as have worked with the local partner to implement the infrastructure and finding the right pathways for delivering the benefits to La Campana Altamira community. To me, this project is a great example of “teamwork that makes the dream work!” I am honored for the management of technology donation, stakeholder connections and decisions on plans that I’ve been responsible for. We’ve learned that community engagement, proactiveness and dedication makes the highest difference to improve a community. That is crucial to the success of any social initiative!
How do Dell team members contribute to the success of the Solar Community Hubs?
Dell professionals are the ones that push the project forward as they plan, organize, monitor and sometimes execute many of the activities we have. Volunteering in these hubs is such a GREAT opportunity for us to put our hands to work for the good of the communities close to us and to our Dell sites! Not only does it help the beneficiaries, but also each of us who are volunteering.
To learn more about the Dell Solar Community Hubs, visit our website.
To learn more about life at Dell, visit Our Stories.
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