Five years ago, Horizontes Universitario was created as a program of Corporación María Perlaza that supports young people on their path to higher education, providing opportunities to continue building their life plans and develop their talents.
The young people who participate in this program have different connections to the Corporation. Some have grown alongside us from their early years, participating in early childhood, childhood, or adolescent programs. Others are part of our impact network and social fabric, built through the work we carry out in territories such as Buenaventura.
Valentina Osma, a talented and committed young woman from Buenaventura, is one of them. Through her connection to our impact network and the support provided by Horizontes Universitario, she was able to obtain a 100% scholarship to pursue the university degree she dreamed of.
A Scholarship to Access Higher Education
Valentina chose to study Interactive Media Design at Universidad Icesi, a degree that allowed her to combine two of her greatest interests: technology and design.
Throughout her university education, she had experiences that broadened her perspective and strengthened her skills. One of these was an academic exchange in Mexico, where she took an editorial design course and created a magazine from scratch. This experience allowed her to discover her interest in editorial design and understand the importance of every detail when creating a visual experience.
In addition, living and learning alongside people from different countries broadened her perspective and allowed her to discover new ways of thinking and working.
Her dedication was consistently reflected in her academic performance. Recently, Valentina received her Cum Laude distinction, awarded in recognition of her outstanding academic performance throughout her degree.
Horizontes Universitario: Supporting Talent and Creating Opportunities
Valentina's story represents the purpose of Horizontes Universitario: supporting talented young people with potential so they can access higher education and continue building their life plans.
For Valentina, having a scholarship and receiving support throughout her journey as a Horizontes participant made it possible to achieve a goal that once seemed distant: going to university and pursuing professional training in the field she was passionate about.
Today, she begins a new chapter in her life, taking with her the professional education and experiences gained over these years as tools to face her first challenges in the working world.
Her story reflects the impact that an educational opportunity can have when it meets talent, dedication, and the right support.
Valentina is an example of how an educational opportunity can open new paths for young people and expand the impact we build in the communities where we work.
At Corporación María Perlaza, we continue supporting stories like hers, convinced that transforming lives through education is possible.
