Marisol Quevedo

Peruvian social entrepreneur bridging education gaps for marginalized youth

Marisol Quevedo is a Peruvian educator and founder of Cimientos, an organization providing free STEM education to underprivileged children in Lima. Established in 2018, Cimientos operates through 12 community centers offering robotics, coding, and renewable energy workshops. By 2024, the initiative had trained over 15,000 students, 65% of whom are girls from informal settlements. Quevedo's model inspired UNESCO's 2021 'Education for All' initiative and received $2.3 million in grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Her partnership with MIT's Open Learning program introduced AI literacy courses, preparing students for tech careers in Latin America. The program's success led to replication in Bolivia and Ecuador, creating a regional network of 45 centers. Quevedo's advocacy for girls in STEM was recognized at the 2023 World Economic Forum, where she presented her blueprint for scalable education systems. Her viral 2022 documentary 'Building Futures' highlights student achievements like solar-powered water purification systems developed by program participants.