Why We Invested
More than 22 million young people in Latin America neither work nor study. What is not surprising, but still disappointing, is that three of every four of these “idle” young people are women. Meanwhile, software development will be the fastest growing career in the next decade in Latin America, requiring over 1.2 million developers by 2025 and is a sector desperately in need of women. Laboratoria has trained more than 1,000 women and placed over 75 percent of them in jobs across 450 companies, pioneering innovative project-based, blended learning methodologies.
What We've Learned
Although 22 million young people in Latin America do not work or study, Laboratoria has taken it on not as a problem, but as an opportunity and responsibility to become a strong voice in Latin America. Laboratoria is spurring the conversation on the critical role of women and diversity in tech and their graduates have become role models for others to follow their lead.
Imagine a Latin America where women, ethnic minorities, and underserved youth are part of designing the products and services we use daily. In the most unequal region in the world, bringing their skills and views in to shape the digital economy is a chance to start building societies that can respond to the needs of all.