Marina Orth Foundation Update

Marina Orth

2010 proved to be a banner year for the Marina Orth Foundation. Apart from receiving visitors from all over the world—none more important than several Colombia RPCVS—we also received the One Laptop Per Child computers for our second school, Campo Alegre, in El Carmen de Vivoral, Antioquia, through a joint program with the government of Antioquia. The national Ministry of Education gave us 84 Classmates for the Bacherillatos at Instituto Educativo Marina Orth in Medellín, and Hewlitt Packard gave us 40 computers for a special enrichment and employment project, taught by SEN A, to teach our kids how to use and design with 3D. We now work with over 500 children in our unique program, which emphasizes computer literacy, English and leadership.

In addition, Proctor and Gamble of Colombia has pledged 300 computers plus a substantial cash donation for next year, and we are becoming recognized nationally in Colombia for our innovative education programs. We are also very proud that one of our top English-speaking students, 17-year-old Yuliana Quintero, was chosen by the American Embassy in Bogota to visit the U.S. for three weeks in November and December, as a member of the highly selective worldwide Young Ambassadors program.

I made four trips to Colombia in 2010 and am scheduled to go back in January of 2011. In July, the foundation hosted a high-level technology delegation from the U.S. Department of State that included the department’s Senior Advisor on Technology. The visibility provided by groups like these led to wide media coverage of our schools and helped the foundation propel public-private partnerships with both the Colombian government and private Colombian foundations.

One of the most positive developments of the year has been the level of cooperation displayed by the national, regional, and local branches of the Colombian government, as well as the response from Colombia’s private sector. Thanks to their foresight and generosity, the Marina Orth Foundation now has four major projects ready for 2011 to serve 2,000 children more. The public-private partnership formula the foundation uses for each project is 40 percent financed by the Colombian government, 30 percent by private Colombian funds, and 30 percent private U.S. funding. Today, the Colombian financing is in place to create a technology-oriented middle and high school in El Carmen de Vivoral for 900, a public primary school for 260 in Mesopatamia, Antioquia, and a 660 student K-11 charter school in Medellín, Las Golondrinas, serving a very poor, largely displaced population from the Chocó. In addition, the foundation has received a grant from a Colombian foundation, San Blas, to begin a workshop center in Medellín to maintain and repair computers. Ideally, the center would be staffed by volunteer teachers. We also welcome volunteers to teach English at our schools, but ask for a commitment of at least one semester.

Now the challenge is for all of us in the U.S. to do our part to make the dream of these children to be able to compete globally come true. The first year costs $450 to equip a child with a computer, uniform and books. The second year and those following cost $200. Any donation and ideas for funding are welcome. Adelante! To donate, please visit www.fundacionmarinaorth.com.