Build Bright Colombian Futures through STEM

Juan (name changed for privacy) discovered the STEM Program last year while attending high school in Puerto Wilches. The call for applications came with a promise that sparked his curiosity: innovation, projects, and creativity. Without thinking twice, he enrolled and began attending the virtual classes, where each session opened the door to new ideas.

Midway through the year, the school organized a Science Fair. Inspired by what they were learning in Makaia’s STEM Program and driven by the excitement of exploring more about science, Juan and a classmate decided to develop a project: a non-polluting energy generator for their community, which frequently suffers from power outages. They consulted several teachers at their school, but many told them it was impossible. Far from being discouraged, that motivated them even more. They worked day and night, even staying up late, taking advantage of the fact that the school lent them a space to develop their prototype.

Life took them to Girón, Santander, where an institution became interested in their project and connected them with a company that financed the necessary materials to move forward.

For Juan, the STEM Program was more than just a course—it was a boost. “The time was 100% well spent,” he recalls. “We always had attentive instructors who answered our questions with patience and kindness. That guidance was key to continuing to believe in our ideas.”

Today, their project is still going, and Juan keeps alive the same motivation that led him to enroll that day in school: the conviction that innovation begins with curiosity and is sustained by perseverance.

The STEM Program is a training process that helps young people strengthen the essential skills they need to be part of the technology industry. The training includes four core components: numerical reasoning, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and life skills. From 2023 to date, Makaia has certified 718 young people in this program.