Learning for Autonomy

Crack The Code

Learning for Autonomy

We empower public high school students with essential AI skills to thrive in a world full of challenges for Latin American youth

Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia

COL

Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit

Over 2 million Colombian youth aged 15 to 24—22% of this age group—are not in education, employment, or training, mainly due to disparities in access to quality education and technology. Only 17% of rural students have reliable internet, and more than 50% of public schools lack digital infrastructure. Over 30% of schools have not integrated technology into their curriculum, leaving students unprepared for the digital economy. By 2030, 70% of jobs will require digital skills, yet underserved youth continue to be excluded—not due to lack of talent, but lack of opportunity. In Latin America, dropout rates are high, education is underfunded, and the digital divide is growing. In Colombia, the public school curriculum is outdated and does not align with the needs of the digital age. High school students graduate without the tools to access employment or generate income. Classes are often irrelevant and disengaging, leading to high dropout rates. Teachers receive no training in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, leaving them unprepared to equip students for future jobs. This structural inequality in schools fuels the cycle of poverty we aim to break.

We offer an education solution designed to break cycles of poverty and promote social mobility by equipping public high school students (grades 9 to 11) with essential skills in digital literacy, technology use, socio-emotional development, and career readiness. Fully integrated as a mandatory subject in the public curriculum, the program ensures accessibility and long-term sustainability. Classes are delivered live and virtually by trained educators from across Latin America and co-taught by public school teachers, who receive ongoing training in digital tools and active methodologies. This model enhances the quality of education for underserved youth while strengthening local teaching capacity. We operate through a custom LMS built on Moodle, providing structured, interactive content directly to schools. Our back-office platform tracks attendance, projects, and performance in real time, enabling data-driven decisions that improve learning outcomes. Demo available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5gp6249uok The program is funded through a co-financing model: 70% from local governments for implementation, and 30% from private and philanthropic partners for technology infrastructure. In a country where 29.6% of the population lives in poverty, Crack The Code opens new educational pathways—connecting youth in Barranquilla with the digital economy and expanding their future opportunities.

We work to improve the lives of low-income youth (socioeconomic levels 1–3, the poorest), aged 14 to 18, enrolled in grades 9 to 11 in Barranquilla’s public high schools. Our target population includes +8500 students, the majority from families with no history of higher education. These students face significant barriers: fewer than 50% are likely to access post-secondary education, and many end up in informal, low-wage jobs, often below the legal minimum wage. A large proportion are also at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment, or training). Our program addresses these challenges by integrating digital, socio-emotional, and occupational competencies into the school curriculum as a mandatory component. The expected impact includes: - Post-secondary participation: 15% increase in enrollment in university, technical education, or bootcamps. - Job placement & income generation: 15% increase in students securing formal employment or engaging in income-generating activities post-graduation - Self-confidence & future readiness: 25% increase in students' self-reported confidence in navigating education and employment pathways. - Reduction in NEET youth: 10% decrease in NEET rates among our beneficiaries, improving upon Colombia’s national averages.