In a country where only 11% of female Technical students choose STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), according to data from the Ministry of Education, stories like Ingrid Acuña’s show that change is possible. Originally from the commune of Freire and currently studying to become a Programming Analyst Technician at the Santo Tomás Professional Institute in Temuco, Ingrid is just a year away from graduating—after making a life-changing decision driven by the desire to move forward and provide a better future for her daughter.
“I had my daughter and knew I couldn’t just sit still—I had to study,” she says. Before venturing into tech, she was an athlete and worked in the Army’s administrative department. But over time, she felt she was falling behind in terms of technology. That’s when she decided to pursue a new path.
The turning point also came with the “Luksic Scholarship: More Women in STEM”, an initiative by Fundación Luksic that has supported 200 women across Chile between 2024 and 2025. “The scholarship gave me a bit of a break. It helped me pay off debts, support my daughter, and even buy a phone—I didn’t have one. It’s been a huge help,” Ingrid explains.
This program aims to close gender gaps in fields with high job prospects and focuses on women who often study and work at the same time: 68% of the scholarship recipients are in that situation, and 67% are the main providers for their households.
“Promoting the education of women in these fields is key to the country’s development. These careers offer better job opportunities, higher salaries, and drive innovation. With this scholarship, we hope to open doors to new female leaders,” said Fernanda Orellana, Director of Education at Fundación Luksic.
For Ingrid, the goal is clear: she wants to become a tech entrepreneur. She dreams of creating her own tech solutions workshop, knowing that experience will be key along the way. “I believe that you only truly complete your training once you start working,” she adds.
Her story is part of a growing network: women who study, dream, and build the future from within their own communities.
