Annual Report 2020 Transforming Education in Colombia 1! WE GO WHERE NOBODY ELSE GOES! NUQUI, CHOCO A REGION OF EXTREME POVERTY WE TEACH PRIZE WINNING STEM On our cover: A huge step forward! Our team of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in Nuqui, Choco, on Colombia’s isolated Pacific Coast, developed a water purification filter using low tech materials for clean drinking water in their homes. They were given 1 million Colombian pesos ($300) prize money to develop a prototype using the STEM and robotic skills they are learning from Marina Orth Foundation. A YEAR OF CHALLENGE AND TRIUMPH Founder’s Letter MAKING INNOVATION A NECCESITY 2020 could have been a 2020 was filled with challenge and obstacles but we were able to show tragic year for the Marina Orth our students that difficulties could be overcome through commitment, Foundation. In a few short discipline, passion, and thinking outside the box. months Covid 19 threw the poor into deeper poverty and wiped out fifteen years of Throughout the year the Marina Orth Foundation was able to provide economic progress towards ways for our students to continue their education with at home building a middle class in projects and frequent virtual contact with our teachers and volunteers. Colombia. Schools were shut down and strict curfews were imposed. A sizeable Winners! We won $1 million proportion of the 4000 students we serve in 20 schools Colombia Pesos as finalists for the in rural Medellin and on the Pacific coast had no “Choco Wave Program” which internet connectivity whatsoever. promotes science and physics. Never have I been more proud of our dedicated staff and international volunteers. While quarantined themselves, they immediately banded together virtually to start figuring out creative and innovative ways to teach STEM, robotics, English and leadership. They organized groups to teach via WhatsApp on cell phones; they helped beleaguered public school teachers by writing months’ worth of curriculum guides delivered via motorcycle and bikes to rural markets and drop off points. In the isolated Pacific coast town of Nuqui, Choco, one of the rainiest places on earth with no access to clean potable water, 4th, 5th and 6th graders won a cash prize for designing a home potable water device. Wonderful American high schoolers, Friends of Colombia and a private school in Medellin all practiced virtual English conversation with our most enthusiastic English learners. We also provided 160 hours of bootcamp training in tech and life planning to vulnerable young mothers and wounded military and police combatants. We went where nobody else did and we found the rainbow. I feel such gratitude. Abrazos, 3 Maureen 1 CREATIVITY IN STEM Meet Dr. ”Allen Bean” AKA Robotics teacher, Andres Aristizabal. Our clever teachers presented STEM projects in entertaining YouTube videos that challenged our kids to create rockets, levers, pulleys, and their own science projects out of found materials around their house. The students kept diaries of their progress and made their own videos, thereby honing their presentation skills. 4 5 2 3 TEACHING ENGLISH VIRTUALLY Online English Mentoring THANK YOU INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS! WWhhere TThhe IInnternet Does NNoot EExixist WWee Came TToo TThhe Rescue High school students from Washington International School, St. Albans and Friends of Colombia, as well as, Marymount in Medellin made friends with and spoke to our kids in English. Our full time international volunteers in Medellin kept their classes going on Zoom and WhatsApp. WE TEACH ON LOCAL TV FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY Jocelin Fewx, our volunteer from Seattle, was asked to teach English via local “Viboral TV” to the whole community of El Carmen de Viboral, the rural region where many of our schools are located. Every few weeks parents and kids came down from their quarantine high in the Andes Every few weeks parents and kids came down from their quarantine high in the Andes 6 6 7 4 to receive our curriculum guides filled with lessons and homework. Their public school 5 teachers and ours then contacted the students via phone and WhatsApp. Keeping Students Motivated Tech and Leadership Bootcamps With Music, Art, Cooking and Sports For Vulnerable Populations Making Fun Videos While Stuck at Home 80 80 hours hours of tech training, life planning, of tech skills, financial socio-emotional learning and planning, socio emotional female mentorship by the learning for former police and Renault Motors Foundation military wounded in combat for young single mothers and their families from from Juanfe Foundation. Matamoros Foundation. Talent Discovery Week, Show off Your English Week and Virtual Festival Our Partners 8 6 9 7 Marina Orth Foundation Finances 2020 Finances 2020 University Graduates Total Budget: $388,000 USD 1,404,000,000 COP Total Budget: $388,000 USD These Outstanding Scholars Make Our Dreams Come True Private: 85% 1,404,000,000 US: 57% COP Public: 15% Colombia: Private:43% 85% US: 57% Public: 15% Colombia: 43% Major Partners Colombia: Major Partners Colombia: Donors Donors Jill Abramson & Henry Griggs Joseph & Carolyn DeMarco Foundation Winton & Hap Hollady Christina Morgan Barbara Smith Nicole Aguiar Kristian Denny & Chuck Todd Kim & Carl Hulse Mickey Murray Sally Bedell & Steven Smith Mark Aledda Deborah DeNooy Jonca & Derrick Humphries Elizabeth & Gary Nabel Tania & Michael Stepanian Anonymous David Dingman Tiffany & Auguste Humphries Marguette & Jerry Norris Liz & George Stevens Jeanne & Norm Asher Chris Donovan Kathy & Jeff Idler Susan O’Malley Brittany Stone & Mike Huffstetler Susan Athy & John Caulfield NewHallie Mitchell listDow and Bartto Dow be insertedElizabeth & Gregory Ingram Pilar & Bill O?Leary Kevin Swanson Andrew Athy Maureen Dowd Maxine Issacs Christina Orth Lila & Brendan Sullivan Darcy Bacon Mary Downs & Tom Walsh Michelle Jaconi & Bart Howe Laura & Mark Pacelli Melissa Sullivan Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley File:Linda & Bill Dunlap2020 donorMuni Jensenlist for Dr.New Ricardo & Christina list Perez to be Keninserted Tesi Cindy Quintero graduated Ambassador Carolina Barco The Richard Eaton Family Carolyn & Roger Johnson Elizabeth Platt Marty & Brett Tremain Valentina Pelaez graduated Randy Bassett Liza Eaton & Adam Cohen Reed Jones Tora Poeter Richard Tuggle from Luis Amigo Catholic John Berendt annualAlison Egan report.xlsJP Morgan Charitable Giving Fund CindyFile: & Henry 2020Poett donorAnn & Marshall list Turner for with honors with a degree Phyllis & Alan Berger Carol & Howard Ellegant Al Kamikawa Carol & Bill Press Nancy & Norv Turner University with a degree in Scott Bergren Catherine & Mark Emmerson Jun & Kiyoshi Kanai Jayannual Propes report.xlsNani & Carlos Urrutia in Agroecological Peter Bihl Katy Farr Jurate Kazickas & Roger Altman The Dennis Quilty Family Cristina Vaughan & Eduardo Gerlein communications. While in Vicky Blooston Barbara Fife Debra & Kenneth Karlin Gordon Radley Diana & Mallory Walker Production from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Anne Finucane & Mike Barnicle Mary Lou Keating Skye Raiser & David Perlin Margaret Mary Wagner school Cindy interned with the Emanuel Morales achieved the Glenn Blumhorst Shaelagh Ford Sister Carol Keehan Molly Raiser Carolyn Wakeman & Bob Tierney Medellin City Council and COREDI Technological Chris & Michael Boskin Irma & Richard Frank Pat & Joseph Kelly Mary & Michael Ray Cynthia & Robert Walsh highest grade point average in the College. Her goal is to make Michele & Jim Bowe Joan & Kevin Frawley Vanessa Kerry Doris Reggie Ellen & John Walsh Women’s Justice Collective Rita Braver & Robert Barnett Beverly & Steve Friedman John King Susan Reichle & Stephen Pelliccia Pat Wand School of Foreign Languages for his healthy food accessible to Meredith & Tom Brokaw Friends of Colombia Willette & Manny Klausner Jennifer Curley Reichert Vicki Warren & Gus Avrakotos Corporation. Don’t be mastery of the English Language. Brown Brothers Harriman Elizabeth & Michael Galvin Angel & Fred Kleinbub Cody Reiter Meredith & Peter Wellington all. She built the organic Bea Buckenroth David Gardner & Pete Williams Susan & Chris Koch Monica Restrepo & Jaime Cavalier Suzy Welch surprised if Cindy runs for graduated with a Bachelor’s Ann & Donald Calder Blair & Gene Giannini Rebecca Lambert Bettie Ricca Eileen Shields West & Robin West garden at our El Tooey Cameron Eloina & Gale Gibson Susan LaSalla Marcie Rickun Gail West office someday. Degree in Foreign Languages from Christopher Carpenter Orfa & Joe Giordano Wayne Lawson Terri Robinson Wendy Wilkinson Progresso/Camargo school Molly & Steve Cashin Richard Gluck Maria Del Pilar Londono Kent Ali & Josh Rogin Michelle Willens & David Corvo Eastern Catholic University. We are Mickey Castle Meg Goffredo Catherine Lopez & Camilo Aguilar Royal and Jonathan Rogers Terrance Williams and taught our kids about Beverly & Ned Chalker Christian Gordon Lucy & Peter Lowenthal Nancy & Miles Rubin Bob Wright thrilled to welcome him as one of Susan Chamberlain Maddy & Paul Grayson Max Lowenthal Luke Russert Dennise Yanovich living healthy and growing Kathy & David Cheek Rebecca & Michael Greeley Pam & Dennis Lucey Kathy Russert Theo & Mark Zaninovich our English teachers back in his old Arleen Cheston Ginny Grenham & Paul Zevnik Linda & Dennis Lynch Ali & Mark Russell healthy. Geri Critchley Sara Grosvenor & Andy Harris Barbara Keller & Robert Madden Blair Sabol rural school where he will serve as Ann Compton & Bill Hughes The Gordon & Llura Gund Foundation Denise & Coe Magruder Judith & Van Schley a great role model. Couplet Inc./Sophie