Shakira Launches Initiative to Train Latin American Women in Tech and AI
Shakira's Barefoot Foundation has partnered with Amazon Web Services, Amazon Music, and Laboratoria to launch "AWS Entrena Latinas," a free training program in Spanish focused on cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The initiative aims to reach one million Latin American women by 2028 and increase female representation in the technology sector from the current 26% to 50%. The program will begin in Colombia, offering introductory courses and AWS certifications to students and mothers associated with the Barefoot Foundation.
The "AWS Entrena Latinas" program represents a collaboration between multiple entities working to address the gender gap in Latin America's technology workforce. By partnering her Barefoot Foundation with major tech companies and a specialized training organization, Shakira is leveraging her platform to support educational access in her native region. The initiative will deliver instruction entirely in Spanish, removing a potential language barrier for participants seeking cloud computing and AI credentials.
The program's target of reaching one million women by 2028 reflects an ambitious scope, beginning with Colombian participants and potentially expanding across the region. By offering free certifications and introductory courses to students and mothers already connected to the foundation's network, the initiative attempts to build pathways into technology careers while addressing a documented underrepresentation of women in the sector.
The initiative could influence hiring practices and workforce diversity within Latin America's growing tech sector by increasing the supply of qualified female candidates. Educational access programs may help reduce economic barriers to career advancement for women in developing regions. However, the program's ultimate impact on the stated goal of reaching 50% female representation will depend on how participants transition training into actual employment opportunities and whether broader industry hiring practices shift to accommodate larger numbers of qualified women entering the field.