Mano Amiga - Colombia 

The 2020 Education and Demography Analysis conducted by Zipaquirá's Secretary of Education revealed that 17% of children in school-aged education do not attend school due to a lack of income among families from the township. Public education coverage reaches only 53.7% of children and young. Yet, Mano Amiga is the only private school offering education to the most vulnerable children from the two bottom levels (1 and 2) of the Colombian socioeconomic stratification. The NPO has worked untiringly to secure a myriad of opportunities for the learning community of Zipaquira, growing to be the fourth biggest institution in the township, offering education to 10% of children deprived of public education with very low dropout rates. As part of their mission to reduce inequities through a pedagogical and curricular model aligned with international standards of high-quality education, the NPO designed a project to build and equip a STEAM Makerspace for children aged 3 to 8. The Makerspace is an innovative educational methodology and collaborative workshop where children gain practical hands-on experience with new technologies and creative processes to design and build projects. A Makerspace provides a flexible environment where learning is made physical by applying science, technology, engineering, math, arts, and creativity to solve problems and build things.

The multiannual STEAM Makerspace project for children 3 to 8 aims to reduce inequities through quality education relevant to the challenges of the 21st century. As collaborative educational spaces, Makerspaces use an innovative methodology to empower students to see themselves as inventors, builders, and creators. Their hands-on and creative research approach provides students with an encouraging way to engage in science, engineering, and tinkering, helping children confront real environmental problems, foster communication, and boost their self-confidence.