Training Girls and Young Women in Technology

For the second year in a row the Marina Orth Foundation was chosen to direct a dedicated training in Medellín for young women interested in technology — Proyecto Mujeres en Tecnología. Partnering with Ruta N, the city backed innovation center of Medellín, and tech giant Motorola, the Foundation taught technical and soft skills to 100 girls and young women from vulnerable areas in the city. 

The attendees who also learned social and emotional discipline and skills were all girls and women 13 to 28-years-old, half of them young mothers. Training focused on developing leadership, empowerment and IT skills that would allow them to obtain new employment opportunities. Special events to boost their motivation and engagement were held throughout the course, including a career fair and a meet and greet with female role models in tech. They heard guest presenters such as Ruta N Director of Operations Catalina López, and Camila Echevarria (pictured below, far-right), Medellín’s “Queen of Apps” and Marina Orth Foundation board member. Also featured as models in tech were our international robotics champions and robotics club members from Santa Juana de Lestonnac School. At just 12 and 13-years-old, these girls presented projects and inventions that inspired the young women. It was exciting to hear eighth grader Paulina Ceron (below) of San Juana tell the girls she intended to be a woman leader in tech in Colombia some day!

At the ceremony culminating the four month long course the female entrepreneurs awarded the graduates a certificate for their work. Now possessing in-demand tech skills plus confidence in their own abilities, these girls are more likely to break the cycle of poverty and contribute positively to their communities. By introducing 100 more skilled young women to the tech field, the course accomplished one of the Marina Orth Foundation’s primary goals: developing and supporting women in technology.