- Social impact and inclusive education
- Reading Time: 4 Min
O-Lab: AI for Good
Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter, an overview of O-Lab’s model. An inside look at how we blend technology, evidence, and human stories to unlock opportunity.
In the coming issues, we’ll share the science behind our model and theory of change,the stories that shaped it and the ones that keep driving it forward.You'll get a closer look at our partnerships and how they really work, our struggles as a tech nonprofit building AI for good our achievementsand a few highlights from the wider world of AI for social impact.
We’ll also talk about our origin: the story of how O-Lab was born in one of Colombia’s most underserved regions. But that’s for another day.
In the meantime, you can catch a glimpse of that journey in my intro video here.
Today is about the bigger picture: what O-Lab is, how it works, and why it matters.
What is O-Lab?
O-Lab (Fundación El Origen in Spanish) is a tech nonprofit rewriting the story of how people learn and are seen.. We believe that our origin, raza, language, or background should never limit our future. They’re part of our story, not the measure of our potential.
We empower institutions and corporations to train and evaluate people using evidence-based data, helping learners recognize their strengths and be recognized for what they can do.
At the heart of O-Lab is O-Lab AI, our easy-to-use, AI-powered interactive content engine that turns learning into play. Through gamification, it creates personalized simulations (think educational video games) that we call Labs.
These aren’t traditional courses; they’re immersive learning experiences where students practice, make decisions, and demonstrate the real-world skills that truly matter for today’s world.
Our O-Lab app makes opportunity accessible to everyone: it works online or offline, on low-cost devices, and is adaptable to multiple languages, including Indigenous tongues. It also integrates seamlessly with existing platforms, expanding reach and inclusion.
By doing so, we’re closing the gap between education and employment, ensuring that modern education and job skills are fun, inclusive, and accessible for everyone, regardless of their origin.
How it works?
We co-create it with companies and educators to meet all kinds of learning needs, combining what schools want to teach with what employers need most. The result is a game where students can:
It explores fundamental subjects such as math, science and communication through engaging story-based scenarios.
Practice and create real projects that develop in-demand job skills, from logistics and engineering to teamwork and creative problem solving.
Get certifications, scholarships, funding and even your first jobs, gaining visibility with partner universities and employers.
Behind every game, there’s powerful data quietly working to make learning more human and effective.
Each click, choice, and action inside a Lab generates evidence-based data that tells a story: what learners know, where they struggle, and where they shine. Teachers use this data to better support their students, discovering their talents and needs.
Every Lab is built from a real challenge.
Our AI engine uses that same data to generate new, tailored games, helping each learner strengthen the areas where they need the most growth.
The data doesn’t just stay with us, it’s shared (ethically and securely) with Secretaries of Education and Employment Agenciesallowing them to design programs that truly reflect learners’ realities and local job markets.
And because we believe access should never depend on connectivity, learners who can’t use the full platform can rely on our AI tutors via WhatsApp, receiving personalized guidance, activities, and feedback wherever they are.
Our reach (and the need ahead)
Each year, O-Lab opens new Labs to more than 10,000 learners.
We’ve co-created Labs with global partners like DHL, Bayer, Equinix Foundation, GitLab and others, helping youth explore logistics, science, engineering, technology and more careers. These Labs have led to measurable results: learners gaining real job offers, higher engagement in STEM fields, and learning outcomes that improve by 80%.
But there’s a long waiting list. Schools and organizations across the world are asking for access, and to reach them, we need more partners who share our vision.
Why it matters?
Every time a learner plays, they aren’t escaping reality, they’re building it.
Every time a company joins, it’s not just workforce training: it’s changing the rules of opportunity. And when institutions join us, they’re transforming education into a bridge that connects classrooms to careers.
Because when opportunity is equal, innovation grows everywhere.
Join Us!
Students pay nothing. Partners make it possible. 🤩
At just $10 per learner,we can open the door to a modern education and job skills for tens of thousands more.
Find out more about this initiative or become a partner Here.
With gratitude,
Tania Rosas, Cofounder & CEO, O-Lab AI
