Build Bright Colombian Futures through STEM

Happy New Year from Medellín! 

This city holds a special place in our story: it’s where Makaia first began its work empowering communities through technology and education. The city, renowned for its capacity for reinvention, still bears the scars of its history with drug trafficking and the social struggles that came with it. Many of its youth, particularly those from underprivileged neighborhoods, are drawn to the allure of quick success and easy money. But at the heart of this, our youth are driven, resourceful and hungry to see change in their lives! Through the STEM Talents Incubator, we aim their energy towards building sustainable, stable futures while also providing the psychosocial support needed to help participants stay grounded and focused. 

Samuel, for instance, is a 19-year-old participant from Medellín. In the STEM Incubator, Samuel discovered his love for computational thinking and critical thinking, with a special fondness for Fibonacci sequences. Beyond the technical skills, he learned valuable life lessons, such as teamwork and stress management, which he says have helped him grow not just as a student but as a person.  

Samuel’s determination to learn led him to address his connectivity issues creatively by using a neighbor’s internet. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “The STEM Incubator has impacted my life and my future. I have learned to think before acting and to be more analytical with day-to-day situations. This will allow me to continue my training in tech, find a job, and become a professional because the skills I have learned are in high demand.” 

To date, the STEM Talents Incubator has transformed the lives of hundreds of young people like Samuel. Your support is vital in helping us empower the next generation of resilient and skilled leaders in Medellín and beyond. 

(ESPAÑOL ABAJO)

Greetings from Barranquilla, Colombia! 
 
Barranquilla, a bustling port city on the Caribbean coast, is known for its rich culture and economic significance. However, the city faces profound challenges, particularly for youth in marginalized neighborhoods, who struggle with limited access to quality education. Public schools often lack the resources needed to provide students with a strong foundation, and as a result, the path to higher education is steep. This, coupled with a high rate of youth unemployment, creates a cycle of poverty and limited prospects, leaving many young people without the skills or opportunities to build better futures. 

In this city, we find an inspiring story from our STEM Talents Incubator: When Stephanie, a young 24-year-old woman from Villas de San Pablo, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Barranquilla joined our program, she was unemployed and not pursuing any formal education. Initially intimidated by mathematics, she struggled to understand even basic concepts, often feeling overwhelmed by numbers. However, the supportive environment and personalized instruction she received helped her overcome these challenges. Stephanie began to see math in a new light: she now says they have become good friends!

Today, she confidently tackles mathematical problems, both in her everyday life and in her studies: She is now learning Data Analytics at BeTek, Makaia’s Bootcamp for Coding and Programming. This opportunity has opened doors for her to build a future in the tech industry, a field with increasing demand and numerous possibilities for growth. 

To date our STEM Talents Incubator has successfully trained 237 individuals like Stephanie, equipping them with essential skills in critical thinking, numerical reasoning, reading comprehension and tech skills to be admitted into higher education and professional training in technology, breaking the cycle of unemployment and poverty in their communities.Your continued support is making a tangible difference in the lives of these young people, helping them build bright futures through STEM education. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. 

ESPAÑOL: ¡Saludos desde Barranquilla, Colombia! 

Barranquilla, una vibrante ciudad portuariaen la costa caribeña, es conocidaporsuricacultura y suimportanciaeconómica. Sin embargo, la ciudad enfrentadesafíosprofundos, particularmente para losjóvenesen barrios marginados, quienesluchan con un accesolimitado a unaeducación de calidad. Las escuelaspúblicas a menudo carecen de losrecursosnecesarios para brindar a losestudiantesuna base sólida, y comoresultado, elcaminohacia la educación superior es empinado. Esto, junto con unaaltatasa de desempleojuvenil, crea un ciclo de pobreza y oportunidadeslimitadas, dejando a muchosjóvenes sin las habilidades o las oportunidades para construir un futuromejor. 

Una historia inspiradora de nuestro Semillero STEM viene de esta ciudad: cuando Stephanie, de 24 años,se unió a nuestro programa, estaba desempleada y no estaba cursando ninguna educación formal. Inicialmente intimidada por las matemáticas, luchaba por entender incluso los conceptos básicos, sintiéndose a menudo abrumada por los números. Sin embargo, el entorno de apoyo y la instrucción personalizada que recibió le ayudaron a superar estos desafíos. Stephanie comenzó a ver las matemáticas desde una nueva perspectiva, ¡ahora dice que son buenas amigas!

Hoy, enfrenta con confianza los problemas matemáticos, tanto en su vida cotidiana como en sus estudios: ahora está aprendiendo Análisis de Datos en BeTek, el Bootcamp de Código y Programación de Makaia. Esta oportunidad le ha abierto puertas para construir un futuro en la industria tecnológica, un campo con una creciente demanda y numerosas posibilidades de crecimiento. 

Hasta la fecha, nuestro Semillero STEM ha capacitado con éxito a 237 personas como Stephanie, equipándolas con habilidades esenciales en pensamiento crítico, razonamiento numérico, comprensión lectora y habilidades tecnológicas para ser admitidos en la educación superior y la formación profesional en tecnología, rompiendo el ciclo de desempleo y pobreza en sus comunidades. Su apoyo continuo está marcando una diferencia tangible en la vida de estos jóvenes, ayudándolos a construir futuros brillantes a través de la educación STEM. Gracias por ser parte de este viaje con nosotros. 

Links:

• WATCH STEPHANIE'S TESTIMONAL