In every one of our centers, behind each computer that lights up, there is a dream in the making. What begins as a computer class or a digital skills workshop soon becomes a real opportunity for employment, independence, and personal transformation. The Orphaned Starfish is committed to provide the necessary tools to students willing to succeed and build a future for them and their families.

At The Orphaned Starfish Foundation we believe that technology education is much more than learning to use a program or create a website—it is a tool to build a future. Our students not only gain technical knowledge but also develop the confidence and skills necessary to enter the workforce and break the cycle of poverty.

From Training to Purpose

Many of the young people who are part of OSF come from vulnerable backgrounds where job opportunities are limited. However, through our life skills program, they discover that their talent and effort can open doors that once seemed unreachable.

Through workshops in programming, web designing, robotics, English, and personal development, each student builds the competencies that are highly valued in today’s job market. Our programs are designed not only to teach practical skills but to empower young people to become the protagonists of their own growth.

Inspiring Stories

Our scholarship recipient students are taking advantage of the life skills program that OSF has been offering throughout the years. These students have been applying everything they have learned during these monthly online gatherings. Read their stories below:

● Monserrat, a 19-year-old second-year psychology student from Nicaragua, excitedly recounted her first experience of direct contact with patients in a mental health unit. For her, this achievement represents a significant step forward in her professional training, and she is deeply grateful for the tools she has acquired, which have allowed her to develop greater confidence in her knowledge.

● Danilo, 19, from Nicaragua, is a second-year student of Veterinary Medicine. He enthusiastically shared his recent experience working with chickens in an academic activity. This internship required him to change his routines, wake up early, and exert himself physically, but it allowed him to discover new abilities and skills he didn't know he had.

● Ana Micolta, 25, from Colombia, expressed her gratitude for everything she learned during the year. In her self-assessment process, she emphasized that today she feels more stable in her health, has managed to gain weight, and, thanks to the tools provided in the training, maintains a formal, stable, and flexible job that allows her to alternate between in-person office work and working from home.

● Juan Camilo Osorio, 19, originally from Panama, is a second-year Civil Engineering student, but has also developed computer skills that he has put into practice by repairing cell phones and other devices. This side business has served as an additional source of income and a smart way to better manage his money.

● Laura Santos, 19, also from Panama, a second-year Civil Engineering student, shared how happy and grateful she is for all the lessons she has learned. She especially highlighted the excitement of developing a project with a friend and how she has learned to organize her time to make it a reality, thus reaffirming her leadership skills and commitment.

Stories like these are used as inspiration to other students and are echoed in Panama, Peru, Haiti, Colombia, Dominican Republic and many other countries where OSF operates. Each testimony reflects the power of education when combined with love, guidance, and vision.

Building Hope

The goal is not only for our students to find a job but for them to sustain a dignified life filled with purpose and hope. That’s why our programs also include leadership training that values education and personal development.

After finishing the life skills program, many of our students become agents of change in their communities—they teach, they create, they help, and they give back what they once received.

Every achievement begins with an opportunity, and every opportunity is made possible by those who support this mission.

Your donation, your time, or your voice can become the bridge that transforms another young person’s story.

Visit www.osf.org and learn more about us and how you can help shape the future of so many more students.