Many say that education is the key to success and that many doors open after achieving academic goals. Which is true, but this road tends to be filled with difficulties and challenges for many people. Yeimmy Paola is a young woman who entered Fundamor at the age of 7; she remained at the institution for 12 years until her graduation. Yeimmy was not exempt from these obstacles and with hard work, determination and the unconditional support of The Orphaned Starfish Foundation, she has achieved her goals and is transforming her life and the people around it. In 2023, she graduated as a technician in “Early Childhood Care”, a career that she would not have been able to pursue without the support of OSF, who believed in her abilities and tenacity. Yeimmy is now a woman who really wants to provide and help her family. She has two beautiful girls, and an excellent partner, who has supported her in everything so that she could achieve her dream of studying.

During her career she maintained excellent grades, and she even continued her studies while pregnant with her second daughter. On the day of her graduation, Yeimmy received an honorable mention for her performance during her degree and for the work experience she did at a school in her city which allowed her to very quickly get a job with the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF), a Colombian government institution that looks after the well-being of families and children in Colombia. Teaching children from ages 1 to 5 in one of its leading rural early childhood care programs called "Modalidad Familiar" (Family Mode). This job has been very enriching and satisfying for Yeimmy because of the experience that she can provide as a mother and graduate of the protection system. Moreover, Yeimmy has been able to contribute to the prevention of the institutionalization of girls and boys, teaching and supporting mothers who are learning about the proper care of children, stimulation, creation and strengthening of emotional bonds and protection of their daughters and sons.

The Orphaned Starfish Foundation is working alongside the different programs worldwide to create opportunities and promote technological education that allows children to nourish their hunger for learning and success. OSF’s scholarship initiative is a source of empowerment that supports students like Yeimmy Paola that are full of resilience, determination, and discipline to turn their pasts into a beautiful and inspiring future. OSF is proud of Yeimmy and all the students that are building their future and taking advantage of all the resources provided.

If you are interested in supporting more students like Yeimmy Paola visit our website www.osf.org/donate to donate today.