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Our Origin

Since 2005, We’ve Been Changing Lives in Colombia

Since 2005, our organization has been carrying out valuable work thanks to the vision and dedication of Maureen Orth. Born in the United States but with an immense love for Colombia, Maureen came to the country in the 1960s as a Peace Corps volunteer. During her time in Medellín, she worked hand in hand with the community of Belén – Las Violetas and the village of Aguas Frías to build two classrooms and provide children and youth in the area with the opportunity to study. The school, inaugurated in 1965, bears the name Marina Orth as a tribute to her social work and personal commitment to educational transformation in Colombia’s most vulnerable and remote regions.

"Our work is not charity. There is no better way to change the world than to inspire, coach and educate children and young people to believe they can make a positive difference. By educating Colombia's most valuable resource, its children, we not only transform their lives, but we help transform the country and grow its GDP. " -Maureen Orth

Our Inspirational Leader

Maureen Orth received her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master's degree in Journalism and Documentary Film from UCLA. She was one of the first writers for Newsweek magazine and has contributed to the New York Times, Washington Post, Rolling Stones, Vogue, and has been a special correspondent for Vanity Fair for many years. As well as being the author of two books.

For her decades of dedication to improving the lives of Colombian children and youth, the President of Colombia awarded her the Cruz de San Carlos in 2015, and in April 2022, she was honored with Colombian citizenship in a ceremony at the Embassy of Colombia in Washington, D.C.

The Life and Work of Maureen Orth