Municipalities such as Medellín, El Carmen de Viboral, La Ceja, El Retiro, Amagá, El Bagre, Barbosa, and Nuquí (Chocó) have benefited from its educational programs.
Over its two decades of work, the Foundation has supported more than 120 scholarship recipients—now systems engineers, lawyers, teachers, and entrepreneurs—who began as participants in programs focused on Robotics, New Technologies, STEM, Socio-emotional Skills, Life Skills, and English.
On Monday, November 10, at the Chamber of Commerce of Medellín for Antioquia, El Poblado branch, the Foundation will celebrate its 20-year anniversary together with scholarship recipients, allies, graduates, donors, and friends, presenting its history and new challenges.
The Marina Orth Foundation was born from the vision of Maureen Orth, who came to Colombia in 1965 as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer and began her social work in the rural village of Aguas Frías in Medellín. There she helped build two classrooms so local children could attend school—creating the Marina Orth Educational Institution, a small school in the mountains of Antioquia’s capital. From that moment, Orth began exploring how to expand her mission, which took shape in 2005 with the formal creation of the Foundation. Its goal: to improve public and rural education in Colombia through technology, English, leadership, and socio-emotional development.
Today, 20 years later, the Foundation continues to equip Colombian children and youth with the skills needed to compete in the 21st century. Its mission remains to reduce educational and social inequality through constant innovation and high-impact educational programs that build cutting-edge competencies.
The Foundation has successfully implemented initiatives in rural and vulnerable communities across Medellín, El Carmen de Viboral, La Ceja, El Retiro, Amagá, El Bagre, Barbosa, and Nuquí (Chocó), including Techlish, TransformaTIC, SparkTIC, Talento 4RI, Step by Step, 4Ward, Educating for the Future Scholarships, TechLabs, New Technologies Bootcamp, and the Elite Robotics Team, thanks to the support of partners such as the Medellín Mayor’s Office, the municipalities of El Carmen de Viboral, La Ceja, and El Retiro, as well as Fundación Bolívar Davivienda, Fundación Rodrigo Arroyave, Rotary Club of Medellín, Auteco, Corporación San Blas, Fundación Nicolás Jordán, Makaia, Ruta N, Microsoft, Cooprogresa, and Cueros Vélez, among many others.
“In 20 years, we have impacted more than 33,000 underprivileged students from 80 public schools; trained more than 1,000 teachers in STEM education; won 33 medals in national and international robotics competitions; and granted 122 scholarships for university and English studies. Our first scholarship generations—now engineers, lawyers, teachers, and entrepreneurs—are proof of our high social impact,” said Henry García Gaviria, Executive Director of the Marina Orth Foundation.
The Foundation distinguishes itself through its integration of – Robotics, New Technologies, Socio-emotional and Life Skills, and English across all programs. Its innovative methodologies create dynamic and creative learning spaces that drive measurable success.
across all programs. Its innovative methodologies create dynamic and creative learning spaces that drive measurable success.
Throughout its 20 years, the Foundation has received multiple recognitions, including:
- Gold and Silver Medals at the IYRC World Robotics Competition in South Korea (2025)
- Best Robotics Team in Central and South America, according to Robojam (2024)
- First Place Junior “Future Innovators” category at the World Robot Olympiad (2024)
- National Champions of RoboJam (Bristle Race category) and international record holders for the fastest robot (2020)
- Second Place at the Latin American Robotex LATAM competition (Folk Race category, 2019)
Together with its partners, the Marina Orth Foundation demonstrates that Colombia’s youth possess the talent to compete on global stages and that joint efforts from government, business, and civil society are essential to closing the nation’s educational and social gaps.
Impact Summary
- 33,000 children and youth impacted during the 20 years of the Foundation
- 1,010 teachers trained during the 20 years of the Foundation
- 80 schools benefited during the 20 years of the Foundation
- 11 municipalities reached (Medellín, El Carmen, Sevilla, Palmira, La Ceja, Venecia, El Retiro, Nuquí, El Bagre, Barbosa, Amagá)
- 17 rural communities impacted (Altavista, Campoalegre, Betania, Camargo, Milagrosa, El Cerro, La Chapa, Quirama, La Sonadora, Madera, Rivera, La Aurora, San José, La Capilla, Yarumito, Alto Grande, La Palma)
- 122 scholarships awarded during the 20 years of the Foundation
- 33 robotics competition podiums achieved (8 international, 24 national)
