Build Bright Colombian Futures through STEM

For many migrant women, access to opportunities in the technology sector represents far more than technical training—it is a concrete pathway toward economic autonomy, labor market integration, and the rebuilding of their life projects. This is the case of Yuriangel Sena Hernández, a Venezuelan woman living in Colombia, who found in the Makaia by BeTek Bootcamp a real opportunity to transform her future in a context where, as a migrant woman, access to formal employment is often limited by multiple barriers.

When she arrived in the country, Yuriangel did not have a formal job. Despite having previous experience, she felt that her professional growth had stalled. “I knew I could go further, but I lacked structure, guidance, and a clear direction,” she recalls. Choosing to pursue training in cloud computing was a strategic decision. She recognized technology as a gateway to new opportunities but needed a high-quality training program to make that transition. “At Makaia, I found the space to take that step,” she explains.

The Bootcamp’s approach goes beyond providing access to training; it focuses on supporting participants through to job placement while strengthening technical skills aligned with current market demands. In Yuriangel’s case, the results have been significant. At 29 years old, she now works as a data engineer for an international company, has earned the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification, and participates as a speaker in a User Group in Medellín.

To date, the Makaia by BeTek Bootcamp has certified 911 participants, of whom 41% are women, and 60% have secured formal employment after completing the program. These results demonstrate a tangible contribution to closing the digital skills gap and promoting social mobility in the region.

This impact is particularly relevant in a context where cloud computing has become a key driver of productive transformation, enabling organizations to enhance their competitiveness through scalability, operational efficiency, and cost optimization.

Yuriangel highlights that one of the most transformative aspects of her experience was the continuous mentorship. “Feeling guided and supported at every stage made a real difference. I learned to think like a cloud professional and to trust my technical decisions,” she notes. She also strengthened essential soft skills such as communication and teamwork, recognizing that “technology is built collaboratively.”

This experience also reshaped her sense of purpose. Today, Yuriangel is committed to sharing her knowledge with others. Alongside three collaborators, she co-founded Tecnolíderes, a community that has already reached more than 80 adolescents and young people in vulnerable contexts in Medellín (Antioquia) and Soledad (Atlántico). “I want more people to have access to real opportunities in technology; training and mentorship can transform not just a career, but an entire life,” she concludes.

Dear supporters,

Thanks to your generosity, MAKAIA’s STEM Talents Incubator continues to transform the educational and professional futures of vulnerable youth in Colombia. Your contributions are opening doors that, for many of our participants, once seemed completely out of reach.

One of the most powerful examples of your impact is Andrés Ospina, a participant from Medellín who transitioned from the STEM Talents Incubator into MAKAIA’s advanced bootcamp. The STEM Incubator plays a crucial role in this transition: youth significantly strengthen the very competencies evaluated in the Gorilla Test—the admission exam for the bootcamp—greatly increasing their chances of passing it successfully. And for those who choose not to pursue the bootcamp but instead apply to university, these same strengthened skills lead to better performance on the national ICFES/Saber 11 exam, expanding their opportunities for higher education.

Andrés shares:

“I was offered the opportunity to join the incubator, where I strengthened many skills such as math, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and others that helped me a lot when taking the exams.”

The Incubator not only strengthened his academic skills, but also his confidence and motivation:

“They supported me. They were always there, always checking on me, accompanying me through the entire process, and giving me the motivation I needed to complete my certification.”

After completing the bootcamp, Andrés is now exploring new employment opportunities and building a career path he once wasn’t sure was possible:

“This process taught me so many things for my future… it opened the doors for me to get a good job.”

Beyond his personal goals, Andrés dreams of giving back to his community:

“I dream of using all the knowledge I gained to help other people and positively impact their lives… to be a contribution to society.”

In Colombia, access to higher education is deeply unequal: only 39% of graduates continue their studies, and public school students score nearly 30 points lower on the national Saber 11 exam. Among the poorest youth, just 23% enroll in higher education. The STEM Talents Incubator directly tackles these gaps by strengthening critical thinking, math reasoning, reading comprehension, and essential digital and life skills—equipping vulnerable students with the competencies they need to progress toward vocational or postsecondary studies.

Join Us in Expanding This Impact

As we continue this work, we invite you to share this story with others who believe in education, fairness, and opportunity. The more people learn about what is possible, the more young lives we can help transform.