Robotics for young women with disabilities

We are excited to report the launch of the 2026 edition of our inclusive robotics training program for young women with disabilities in Costa Rica.

This year's edition brings together 40 young women across two training groups, each completing 30 hours of hands-on STEM education through 10 in-person sessions. The first group successfully graduated on June 24, and the second group is on track to complete the program on August 5.

Throughout the training, participants build robotics, programming, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a fully inclusive environment designed around their needs.

A special milestone this year has been the inclusion of young women from a local Center for Comprehensive Support for People with Disabilities (CAIPAD), extending quality STEM education to a population that often faces significant barriers to accessing technology.

The results are already visible: growing confidence, creativity, and enthusiasm for technology among participants. Every robot they build reflects not only new technical skills, but also greater independence and a stronger belief in their own abilities.

The Omar Dengo Foundation is deeply grateful for the generous support of our donors and partners. Your contributions provide robotics kits, adapted learning materials, inclusive instruction, and personalized guidance — helping more young women with disabilities discover their potential and build brighter futures through technology.

Continue this journey with us

Every donation—no matter the size—creates a new opportunity:

• One more young woman discovering she can succeed in technology.
• One more family seeing new possibilities for their daughter.
• One more step toward a more inclusive society.

In Costa Rica, many young women with cognitive disabilities face limited access to technology-enabled training and have few opportunities to explore STEM areas (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

The Omar Dengo Foundation (FOD) is working to change this reality.

Through our Robotics for Young Women with Disabilities program, we offer inclusive, hands-on robotics training, designed specifically for young women between the ages of 13 and 25 with mild or moderate cognitive impairment, from the Greater San Jose Metropolitan Area.

Our course is based on a constructivist methodology (learning by doing) where participants work collaboratively in pairs, build and program functional robots, develop projects that respond to the real needs of their environment, and learn at their own pace with guided support. We are focused on strengthening participants´ skills such as logical reasoning and structured thinking, concentration and attention, memorization through sequences and processes, troubleshooting and teamwork and communication.

From April 6 to June 30, 2026, we are preparing to benefit 40 young women with a new course cycle — and we need your support to be able to reach more women.

Who do we benefit?

Participants come from communities in the Greater Metropolitan Area, including Alajuelita, Moravia, San José and Flores (Heredia).

Most are high school students in academic or vocational programs. Many young women have functional reading and fine motor skills needed to manipulate robotics materials, although some require additional supports for learning or mobility.

They are young women with a strong desire to learn, experiment and demonstrate their capabilities in the technological field.

Your donation will allow us to:

• Provide robotics kits and technological training materials
• Ensuring inclusive facilitation and personalized guidance
• Cover pedagogical resources and adapted materials
• Sustaining high-quality, inclusive STEM education

Each contribution – no matter how much – directly impacts a young woman's opportunity to discover her potential in technology.

Join us during the Little by Little Campaign (March 17–20, 2026)

"Little by Little" is a four-day GlobalGiving-sponsored fundraising campaign designed to mobilize small donations and multiply community impact.

It is the ideal opportunity to:

• Be part of an inclusive innovation movement
• Supporting young women in their access to technological education
• Contribute to reducing gender and disability gaps in STEM

Little by little we build trust.

Little by little we develop skills.

Little by little we build futures.

Thank you!

Links:

• Inclusive Educational Robotics for Young Women