FUNDESTEAM · 2014–2026 Impact Report

Reimagining education in Panama through science, technology and robotics

We are a Panamanian nonprofit. Since 2014, we have brought hands-on STEAM learning to children, young people and teachers in public and private schools, and turned every gift into opportunities we can measure.

See our impactWays to give
40,000+
children and youth reached
3,000+
teachers trained
12
years of uninterrupted work
STEAM Labs 2017–2024

Donated labs across Panama

Each dot is a public or private school that received a STEAM lab from FUNDESTEAM and its partners: robotics equipment, learning materials and training for its teachers. Tap a dot to see who donated it and when.

115
labs donated
106
schools reached
13
education regions
2017–2024
donation period

Source: FUNDESTEAM's STEAM Labs register of schools reached, 2017–2024. A school may have received more than one lab. Province boundaries: geoBoundaries, with OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).

Our track record

Results you can measure

Cumulative figures from our annual reports, always rounded down.

40,000+
children and youth trained in STEAM since 2014
3,000+
teachers trained to teach STEAM
12,000+
students have competed in the National Robotics Olympiad since 2015
1,000+
Robotics Clubs across Panama
1,900+
Samsung Innovation Campus graduates
1,000+
girls reached by STEAM Girls 360
1,400+
STEAM Diploma Program graduates, 63% of them women
11
Latin American countries in our WRO regional network
Our story

Twelve years of impact

What began as a single robotics tournament is now a network of programs that reaches all of Panama and eleven countries across Latin America.

Students at the Robotics Olympiad
2014

FUNDESTEAM is born

Founded with one mission: to raise the quality of education in Panama through robotics and STEAM.

2015

The first National Robotics Olympiad

The World Robot Olympiad comes to Panama, and students from across the country compete for a spot on the national team at the world finals.

2020

Robotics keeps going

With the pandemic at its peak, the Olympiad moves online and teacher training carries on.

2021

Samsung Innovation Campus and STEAM Preschool launch

Young people learn Python and artificial intelligence, and early childhood centers start learning through STEAM.

2022

Panama joins the world's best

Panama places 8th in the world at the WRO in Germany. STEAM Girls 360 is born, and nearly 1,000 teachers complete the STEAM Diploma Program.

2023

Panama hosts the World Final

81 countries gather in Amador. FUNDESTEAM is named the WRO Regional Office for Latin America and launches a scholarship partnership with the Deveaux Foundation.

2024

A record-breaking year

1,041 teams at the regional events, a world Top 10 finish in Türkiye, and more than 14,600 people reached in a single year.

2025

Panama takes center stage

Panama hosts the WRO Open Championship Americas and the FIRST Global Challenge, with more than 190 countries, and brings home gold in the tournament final. Plus, the Team Spirit Award in Singapore.

2026

A new chapter

12 Regional Olympiads, more than 800 students, Team Panama heading to Puerto Rico, and the launch of the FTC Panama Cup with Grupo MEDCOM.

Our programs

Support at every step of a student's journey

From preschool to a first job, we train teachers, equip schools, open doors for girls and young people, and put Panama on the world stage.

National Robotics Olympiad - WRO Panama

As the official national organizer of the World Robot Olympiad, we run Regional Olympiads nationwide and the National Olympiad, and we take Team Panama to the world finals.

12,000+ students since 2015World Top 10 in 2022, 2023 and 2024300+ volunteer judges trained

FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Global

We have been FIRST's official partner in Panama since 2018. Together with Grupo MEDCOM, we run the FTC Panama Cup, where high school students design, build and code competition robots and open a path to university scholarships.

Gold in the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge finalFTC Panama Cup since 2026

Samsung Innovation Campus

In partnership with Samsung, we train young people in Python and artificial intelligence as they look for their first job.

1,900+ graduates since 202190% certification rate in the 2025 cohort

STEAM Girls 360

Training and mentoring that help girls and teens close the gender gap in science and technology.

1,000+ girls trainedMost Disruptive Award, Women in Tech LATAM

STEAM Diploma Program for teachers

Public and private school teachers learn to teach through robotics, coding and hands-on projects.

1,400+ teacher graduates63% women

STEAM Labs

Robotics and technology labs donated to public and private schools, in three tiers: Robotics Club, Robotics Classroom and Full STEAM Lab.

115 labs donated since 2017106 schools nationwide

STEAM Preschool

Bringing STEAM to early childhood centers, in partnership with the Office of the First Lady.

37 centers since 20211,700+ children served

University scholarships

Scholarships that help talented young people pursue science and technology degrees, with partners such as the Deveaux Foundation.

120 STEAM scholarships awardedPartnership since 2023

Employability: from the classroom to a first job

We build first-job skills through the Ministry of Labor's Mi Primer Empleo (My First Job) program, and an employability platform and hackathon with employers help Samsung Innovation Campus graduates land their first job.

4,600+ youth in Mi Primer Empleo (2024)64% job placement at Samsung Innovation Campus
The Olympiad by the numbers

Twelve seasons, more than 12,000 students

500+
250+
~1,000
700+
650+
800+
100+
850+
2,400+
2,900+
1,100+
800+
201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

Students per season. 2020 and 2021 were pandemic seasons; in 2023, Panama hosted the World Final.

Looking ahead

Where every dollar goes

Take the 2027 annual budget for the National Robotics Olympiad. Most of it goes to what stays in schools: equipment, teacher training and competitions across the country.

B/. 1every balboa (US$1)
Robotics Club equipment38%
Teacher training and mentoring19%
Regional Olympiads15%
Team Panama at the world finals14%
National Olympiad8%
Registration, insurance and uniforms5%

Administration capped at 10%

Everything else goes straight to the programs.

Separate account and records

Every gift is tracked in its own books, backed by receipts.

Impact report

Every donor receives results: students, schools, regions and achievements.

Tax-deductible giving

Donations are deductible from Panamanian income tax, with a certificate for each gift (DGI Resolution No. 201-4442).

Ways to give

What your gift makes possible

Choose where you want to make a difference. Every gift becomes something real for a student, a teacher or a school.

From B/. 5,000

Empower 15 girls through STEAM Girls

120 hours of aerospace, robotics and leadership training over 12 weeks. Your employees' daughters are welcome to join.

B/. 1,200

Send a national champion to the world finals

Airfare, lodging and meals for one member of Team Panama.

B/. 10,000 – 30,000

A STEAM Lab for a school

A Robotics Club (8 robots), a Robotics Classroom (15 robots) or a Full STEAM Lab (30 robots, 30 computers and a fully refitted classroom).

B/. 3,900

Fund a Regional Olympiad

Venue setup, tables, kits, judges, security and logistics so an entire region can compete close to home.

B/. 3,500 – 150,000

Sponsor the WRO season

Seven sponsorship packages that keep your brand visible throughout the 2027 season.

Your time

Mentor or volunteer

Your team can serve as mentors, judges or volunteers at the Olympiads and in STEAM Girls.

Who stands with us

Partners and recognition

Ministry of Education (MEDUCA)SamsungPADFBoeingChevronDeveaux FoundationOffice of the First LadySENACYTMinistry of LaborColón Free Trade ZoneMunicipality of ColónColón 2000 Duty Free MallAJEFUNDAMORGANWRO AssociationFIRSTGrupo MEDCOM

General Victoriano Lorenzo Medal of Merit

Awarded in 2024 for FUNDESTEAM's contribution to education in Panama.

Most Disruptive Award

Women in Tech LATAM Awards, recognizing the impact of STEAM Girls 360.

WRO Regional Office for Latin America

Appointed by the WRO Association in 2023, we bring together eleven countries across the region.

Let's talk

Join us in making an impact

We would love to walk you through our programs and shape, together with you, the kind of support that best fits your organization's goals.

Marvin Daniel Castillo Benavides

President and Legal Representative, FUNDESTEAM

mcastillo@fundesteam.org
+507 6674-7992
National Robotics Olympiad - WRO Panama 2027

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