Our Origin
We have been changing lives in Colombia since 2005
Since 2005, our organization has been doing valuable work thanks to Maureen Orth's vision and dedication. Born in the United States but with an immense love for Colombia, Maureen came to the country in the 1960s as a Peace Corps volunteer. During her stay in Medellín, she worked side by side with the community of the Belén - Las Violetas neighborhood and the village of Aguas Frías to build two classrooms and give the children of the village the opportunity to study.
The school, inaugurated in 1965, is named after Marina Orth as a tribute to her social work and her personal commitment to educational transformation in the least fortunate and most remote areas of Colombia.
Our Inspirational Leader
Maureen Orth received her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master's degree in Journalism and Documentary Film from UCLA. She was one of the first writers for Newsweek magazine and has contributed to the New York Times, Washington Post, Rolling Stones, Vogue, and has been a special correspondent for Vanity Fair for many years. As well as being the author of two books.
For her dedication over the decades to improving the lives of Colombian children and youth, she was awarded the Cross of San Carlos by the President of Colombia in 2015 and was honored with the granting of Colombian citizenship in a ceremony at the Colombian Embassy in Washington DC during April 2022.
