Catalina Escobar

Colombian social entrepreneur transforming lives of teenage mothers through education

Catalina Escobar founded Fundaciรณn Juanfe after witnessing 42 infant deaths at a Cartagena hospital. Her organization provides comprehensive vocational training, psychological support, and childcare solutions to 23,000+ teenage mothers since 2001.

Through three-stage empowerment programs combining technical education (culinary/beauty/tech), emotional therapy, and job placement, Juanfe achieves 85% employment rate for graduates. Their UNICEF-recognized model reduced Cartagena's teen pregnancy rate by 32% and now expands to Panama/Chile.

Escobar's Mobile Schools Initiative brings education to remote areas via converted buses. Her TEDx talk 'Breaking Poverty Cycles' outlines systemic solutions. Partnered with MIT D-Lab to develop low-cost medical devices.