Building Cybersecurity Awareness at the Puerto Rico Community Foundation

Participants receiving their certificates.

Three weeks of practical cybersecurity education helped 15 foundation team members strengthen their awareness and confidence in navigating everyday digital risks.

Cybersecurity threats often appear in familiar situations: an unexpected email requesting sensitive information, a suspicious link disguised as a routine notification, or a message creating urgency to take immediate action.

Recognizing these situations and knowing how to respond are essential skills for anyone who uses digital technology, especially professionals who regularly communicate, collaborate, and handle information online.

At Raíces Cyber, community cybersecurity education is a key part of our mission. Through a series of workshops delivered in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Community Foundation (Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico), we had the opportunity to bring practical cybersecurity awareness training directly to 15 members of the foundation's team.

Three Wednesdays Focused on Everyday Cybersecurity

Over three consecutive Wednesdays, Gamalier Merced co-led three cybersecurity fundamentals workshops focused on helping participants recognize and respond to common digital threats.

The sessions introduced practical concepts to help participants identify suspicious messages, recognize potential security risks, protect personal and workplace information, and respond appropriately when something seemed unusual.

The workshops were designed for participants with varying levels of technical familiarity. Real-life examples, accessible explanations, and interactive activities helped connect cybersecurity concepts to situations they could recognize and understand.

This approach was especially important because cybersecurity awareness depends on people's ability to apply what they learn when making everyday decisions.

Making Cybersecurity Education Accessible

One of the most valuable lessons from the experience came from adapting the training to an adult audience.

Teaching working professionals requires an understanding of their existing experiences, responsibilities, and learning needs. Breaking down information into smaller sections and using familiar scenarios helped make the material easier to follow and retain.

Interactive quizzes after each topic gave participants opportunities to reinforce what they had learned while allowing facilitators to assess their understanding.

Approximately 80% of participants answered the quiz questions correctly, providing an encouraging indication of how well they were engaging with the material.

Beyond the quiz results, the sessions revealed another meaningful outcome: growing confidence.

During the first workshop, some participants appeared hesitant and intimidated by the subject matter, although they showed a clear willingness to learn. As the weeks progressed, their enthusiasm increased, questions became more frequent, and participation grew.

Watching that progression became one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience.

Why Cybersecurity Awareness Matters for Community Organizations

Organizations serving their communities rely on digital systems to coordinate programs, communicate with partners, manage information, and carry out their daily operations.

Their employees play an important role in maintaining secure practices across these activities.

Cybersecurity awareness training helps staff recognize potential risks and make informed decisions before a suspicious interaction develops into a larger problem.

For community-focused organizations, these skills also contribute to operational resilience and the protection of the relationships and information that support their work.

By making cybersecurity education understandable and relevant to everyday responsibilities, organizations can help employees develop habits that strengthen their overall security culture.

Extending Our Mission Through Community Education

Raíces Cyber's mission includes educating and protecting communities while expanding access to cybersecurity knowledge and opportunities.

Our collaboration with the Puerto Rico Community Foundation reflects that commitment through practical, community-centered education.

The experience also reinforced the value of meeting learners where they are, adapting instruction to their needs, and creating opportunities for active participation.

Across three workshops, 15 participants had the opportunity to strengthen their understanding of everyday cybersecurity risks and build greater confidence in recognizing and responding to suspicious situations.

We extend our appreciation to the Puerto Rico Community Foundation for welcoming Raíces Cyber and to Gamalier Merced for his contributions to delivering these workshops.

As we continue our work across Puerto Rico and beyond, experiences like this help inform how we deliver accessible, relevant cybersecurity education to the communities we serve.