Impact case · Education

Scholarships with the Atlántico Governor's Office

In 2024, together with the Atlántico Governor's Office, 60 people from socioeconomic strata 1 to 3 (Colombia's lower-income brackets) in Barranquilla, Soledad, Malambo, Galapa and Puerto Colombia learned software development with artificial intelligence. After the course we supported them with sessions on résumés, LinkedIn, job applications and interviews. Six months later, 80% were working in tech: 10% at companies abroad, including Silicon Valley, and 70% at local companies.

Instructor teaching a Next.js web development class to students with laptops
Software development with AI class, scholarship program
60
people from strata 1 to 3 in Atlántico received scholarships in 2024
80%
were working in tech six months after the course
10%
at companies abroad, including Silicon Valley
70%
at local companies

The Foundation's role

The scholarship didn't end in the classroom. This is what we did:

  1. We taught software development with AI

    We brought software development with artificial intelligence classes to 60 people from strata 1 to 3 in Barranquilla, Soledad, Malambo, Galapa and Puerto Colombia.

  2. We worked alongside the government

    We did it in partnership with the Atlántico Governor's Office, so the training would reach people from the department.

  3. We supported the job search

    After the course we ran sessions on résumés, LinkedIn, job applications and interviews so everyone reached the job market prepared.

  4. We opened the door to the community

    For many of the scholarship recipients, the scholarship was their way into the Caribbean tech community.

Why it matters

For years the story in the Caribbean was: get trained, then emigrate. These scholarships aim to change that story, so that people who learn to code here can work, build companies and grow in tech.

Six months after the course, 80% of the scholarship recipients were working in tech: 10% at companies abroad, including Silicon Valley, and 70% at local companies.

80% were working in tech

Measured six months after the course ended

At companies abroad, including Silicon Valley
6 people (10%)
At local companies
42 people (70%)
Not working in tech at six months
12 people (20%)
The 60 people who received scholarships in 2024. Each figure is one person.

Scholarship stories

Some of the people who went through the program.

  • Silicon Valley

    Eduardo Manrique

    He now works for a Silicon Valley company. He was also a mentor at Barranqui-IA 2025.

  • Entrepreneurship

    Paulo Estrada

    He is building a startup called Créalo. His first hackathon was Barranqui-IA 2024.

  • And many more

    A community that grew

    Six months after the course, 8 out of 10 scholarship recipients were working in tech, and others became part of the Caribbean tech community through this opportunity.