What is the name of your organization?
ARUKAY INC
What is the name of your solution?
Arukay Learning System
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Arukay equips Latin American students with problem-solving and soft skills through a comprehensive tech-based learning system for their schools.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Panama
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Panama
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Latin America is facing a silent crisis in education: Students are not being prepared for the demands of the digital economy, and the consequences are generational. According to the OECD, while it takes just 2 generations to escape poverty in Denmark, it takes 11 in Colombia, 9 in Brazil and Argentina, and 6 in Chile. The region’s education systems are failing to equip young people with the digital and socio-emotional skills they need to break this cycle.
The scale of the challenge is enormous. As reported by the Inter-American Development Bank (2021), over 180 million students across 33 countries are affected, and more than 300 million professionals lack the skills to stay competitive. The COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse: learning poverty in the region rose from 53% to 79% (World Bank, 2022), highlighting deep inequalities and systemic fragility.
At the same time, teachers are not being adequately prepared. According to UNESCO (2024), the main barrier to digital transformation in education is the inability of teachers to use technology appropriately. The same report emphasizes the urgent need to foster growth mindset, self-efficacy, and innovation—skills often overlooked in traditional teaching models.
Without urgent change, Latin America risks raising a generation unprepared to participate in—or shape—the future.
What is your solution?
Arukay equips schools with a complete, easy-to-implement system to teach students real digital skills—from basic computing to coding, AI literacy, and data science—through engaging, hands-on learning. We provide a structured curriculum for Grades 1–12, delivered in weekly tech classes that fit into the school schedule.
We implement this through a pedagogical framework centered on Project-Based Learning and Design Thinking, enabling students to develop crucial problem-solving abilities while working on real-world STEAM projects. Our AI-powered assessment tools reduce teacher administrative workload by 50%, providing automated grading and real-time analytics. We support educators through continuous professional development, including initial onboarding and regular masterclasses throughout the academic year.
What distinguishes Arukay is our holistic approach that balances technical skills with Digital and AI Citizenship programs while motivating students through international competitions. Delivered through dedicated technology classes (two hours weekly) within regular school schedules, our system has reached 75,000+ students across 10 countries, making curricular innovation scalable and measurable where it matters most—in classrooms. Unlike programs that rely on extracurricular coding clubs or short-term interventions, Arukay works within the education system to drive long-term change.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Arukay has three primary beneficiary groups: students, educators, and school systems.
Students, aged 5-17 across Latin American countries, received structured pathways to master both technical (i.e. AI literacy) and soft skills (i.e. problem solving) essential for future success. Middle schoolers show measurable improvement in computational thinking (+16.52% in decomposition, +13.47% in pattern recognition), while high schoolers demonstrate even more gains (+27.5% in decomposition). One student from Mexico created an app addressing food waste in her community, exemplifying our impact on developing real-world problem solvers.
Teachers benefit through reduced administrative workload (50% reduction in grading time) and continuous professional growth opportunities. Educators report greater confidence integrating technology and higher classroom engagement.
School systems gain a comprehensive, standards-aligned solution that modernizes their curriculum without infrastructure changes. Schools implementing Arukay report improved technology adoption, higher student engagement, and better preparation for evolving workforce demands.
Secondary beneficiaries include parents, who gain visibility into their children's digital skill development, and local communities that benefit from student-led technology solutions to local challenges. Our tailored approach ensures all stakeholders receive appropriate support through their digital transformation journey.
