What is the name of your organization?
Makaia
What is the name of your solution?
Makedu
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Our free digital platform builds core skills like numerical reasoning, reading, and logic to prepare youth for opportunities in the tech industry.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Colombia
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
In Colombia, thousands of young people face significant barriers in developing fundamental skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and digital literacy, which are key competencies for accessing the tech sector. According to the Inter-American Development Bank (2022), Colombian students have a 4-year delay in mathematics compared to their peers in the OECD, and reading comprehension remains a critical challenge (IDB, 2022).
Despite the high demand for IT professionals in the country, with a shortage of 162,000 IT professionals (Corona Foundation, 2023), these gaps directly affect employability, contributing to a NEET rate (youth not in education, employment, or training) of 23% (World Economic Forum, 2025). Women face even greater challenges, as despite achieving higher educational levels, their employment rate remains lower than that of men (OECD, 2023).
Globally, tech jobs are the fastest-growing, with a high demand for specialists in Big Data, AI, and software development (WEF, 2025). Numerical reasoning, reading comprehension, and analytical thinking are essential for starting learning in technology fields.
What is your solution?
Our solution is a self-guided learning platform (LMS) designed to strengthen essential skills in young people from low-income communities. It integrates the Sensei LMS and its interactive blocks to enhance the user experience and support dynamic, engaging learning.
Makedu offers three main courses: Reading Comprehension, Life Skills, and Numerical Reasoning, with Critical Thinking embedded throughout. These modules are focused on building the key competencies required to access educational and employment opportunities in the tech sector.
The platform is accessible from any device and allows learners to progress at their own pace. It combines interactive content, automated assessments, and adaptive learning pathways to reinforce concepts and track progress. Its inclusive and free design removes common barriers for learners in underserved communities.
By focusing on foundational skills, our platform helps bridge learning gaps and prepares young people to transition into technical education or the digital job market.
Key Concepts:
Free access for low-income youth
Key competencies for the digital economy
Closing gaps in STEM education and employment
Pathways to tech training or jobs
Automated assessments with real-time feedback
Designed for all levels of digital literacy
www.makedu.org
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution targets young people in vulnerable situations who face barriers to accessing quality education and employment. This includes individuals from low-income backgrounds, the unemployed or underemployed, NEETs, women, and gender-diverse individuals facing challenges in entering STEM fields, people with disabilities, and communities affected by migration or conflict.
These young people often face limited access to technical training and sustainable employment opportunities. Our self-guided learning platform provides a flexible and inclusive alternative, enabling them to develop the essential skills needed to continue their education or enhance their employability in high-demand sectors.
Our solution breaks away from the traditional education model by offering dynamic, accessible, and flexible training. It strengthens key competencies that help young people continue their education and prepare for new opportunities. Our goal is not just to train them but to empower them to transform their futures through essential digital skills.
