Education Colombia Project #35714

Train young Colombian women for a career in STEM

by MAKAIA

Train young Colombian women for a career in STEM

Project Report | Feb 5, 2026
Transforming Futures: Women in Technology

By Ana Isabel Restrepo | Project leader

Paula Bedoya

Investing in STEM education and promoting women’s participation in technology-related roles has proven to be an effective driver of social and economic transformation. Paula Bedoya’s story reflects this impact. Her decision to pivot toward the technology sector marked a turning point in her professional journey: she enrolled in Makaia’s STEM Seed Program and later received a scholarship in Data Analysis, initiating a process that expanded her employment opportunities and enabled her to take on new professional challenges.

Paula is one of the 354 women trained through the Makaia Bootcamp, representing 40% of the 954 individuals certified across the organization’s various programming and technology-focused courses. Through Makaia and BeTek, women’s participation in the technology ecosystem is actively promoted as a strategy to reduce gender gaps, strengthen employability, and facilitate access to higher-quality job opportunities.

A 24-year-old political scientist from Turbo, Antioquia, Paula recalls that before beginning her journey through the STEM Pathway, she was unemployed and uncertain about her professional future. Upon completing the program, she not only secured employment but also strengthened her ability to adapt to different roles, integrating her qualitative skills with quantitative tools. This process has significantly increased the competitiveness and appeal of her professional profile in the labor market.

She currently works as a data journalist and economic researcher in Bogotá. Paula highlights that the Bootcamp provided not only technical knowledge, but also the confidence needed to navigate more demanding work environments, incorporate technology into her daily practice, and explore new digital tools. She also emphasizes the development of key transversal skills such as teamwork and time management.

This individual impact is amplified through the Makaia Bootcamp scholarship program, which currently includes three active cohorts and 109 participants in training. Like Paula, these individuals are preparing to assume new roles in the technology sector and become agents of change within their communities. Through education, the program contributes to social and economic transformation, promoting technology as a practical tool for equity and the creation of sustainable opportunities.

Looking ahead, Paula aspires to achieve a healthy balance between her personal and professional life, take on challenging roles, and engage in economically sustainable projects with positive social impact. As she reflects: “The Bootcamp training allowed me to get closer to technology and innovation, connect with initiatives that transform realities, and surround myself with people who share similar goals.”

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Oct 8, 2025
Women Who Rewrite Their Story

By Andrea Chajin | International Cooperation Professional

Thanks to YOUR support, the project “Train Young Colombian Women for a Career in STEM” continues to transform lives and open paths toward a more equitable future for women in Colombia. Today, we proudly celebrate that 325 women have completed their training and received certification in high-demand technology fields, strengthening their professional and personal development opportunities. Behind each number lies a story of effort, hope, and perseverance. Most of the participants come from the lowest socioeconomic levels.

One of these stories is that of Manuela Solís, a 25-year-old woman from the municipality of Bello, Antioquia. Manuela lives with her parents and is the mother of a one-and-a-half-year-old boy. Although her initial education was in Hotel Management, she decided to make a change in her life by enrolling in the Data Analysis Bootcamp with Artificial Intelligence tools, developed by BeTek and Makaia.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity because it has helped me become more disciplined, adapt to the technology field, and strengthen skills that I hadn’t developed before,” says Manuela.

Her journey was not easy. Returning to studies after an academic and professional break required effort, commitment, and organization. But it also restored her self-confidence and motivation to keep growing.

Today, Manuela is applying the knowledge she gained to her candle-making business, using data analysis to optimize sales and project her business growth. Her story reflects the true purpose of this program: not only to train women for employment in the technology sector but also to empower them to lead, innovate, and transform their communities through knowledge and innovation.

Each story like Manuela’s reminds us that this project is not only about learning to code or analyze data — it’s about learning to believe. To believe that it’s possible to reinvent oneself, that education can break cycles of inequality, and that Colombian women can be protagonists of the digital transformation.

Thanks to the trust and generosity of people like you, we continue to open doors and sow hope in hundreds of women who now see the future through new eyes — the eyes of possibility, independence, and dignity.

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Jun 11, 2025
From a Passion for Technology to a Career in Cybersecurity

By Ana Isabel Restrepo Guerra | Project leader

For several years, I had been exploring the world of technology on my own. I was passionate about understanding how systems worked—from software development to data analysis. I studied front-end and back-end development, as well as data processing, independently. Although it was a self-taught journey, each new lesson fueled my motivation and desire to keep learning.

One day, a friend shared with me the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to a cybersecurity bootcamp led by Makaia. For me, it was a turning point. Shifting my professional focus wasn’t a small decision, but something told me I had to go for it. I had always been interested in cybersecurity, so I decided to apply.

I was selected, and that’s how a six-month period of intensive training began. During that time, I not only gained technical knowledge in system protection, vulnerability analysis, and cybersecurity best practices, but I also acquired essential tools for entering the job market, which made a big difference. I learned how to effectively showcase my skills, how to prepare for interviews, and how to build a standout professional profile.

It wasn’t an easy path. There were demanding moments, long hours of study, and technical challenges that tested my patience. But I stayed committed. I took full advantage of every class and resource Makaia offered throughout the bootcamp. I knew this was a unique opportunity.

Thanks to all that effort, I was able to find a job shortly after completing the training. It was a deeply satisfying moment—not only because it marked a personal achievement, but also because it signaled the beginning of a new professional chapter with greater stability and potential.

Today, I look back with deep gratitude. This bootcamp didn’t just strengthen my technical skills—it restored my confidence to compete in the job market. I’m thankful to Makaia and everyone who made this experience possible. What I received went far beyond technical training; it was a true life transformation.

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