The 2026 OLACDE Open House provided a unique space where emerging talents could connect with the future of energy. The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) successfully held this first edition—an innovative initiative that brought together students, academics, scientists, government authorities, diplomatic representatives, and experts to promote energy knowledge among children and young people through practical and immersive experiences.
Participants engaged in interactive laboratories and technological challenges focused on hydrogen, solar energy, energy efficiency, urban sustainability, and renewable energy. Through hands-on stations developed in collaboration with Ecuadorian universities and specialized organizations, students experienced firsthand how the technologies driving today’s global energy transformation operate.
The event was attended by OLACDE Executive Secretary Andrés Rebolledo; Ecuador’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Juan Carlos Blum; representatives of the diplomatic corps of Colombia; the Chargé d’Affaires of the Algerian Mission in Ecuador, Mr. Taazibt Lounes; the Ambassador of Chile, Carola Muñoz Oliva; and the Ambassador of Uruguay, Fernando Sandín Tuss. All expressed their support for this initiative aimed at strengthening interest in science, technology, and innovation among younger generations.
“Today, for the first time, we opened the doors of OLACDE to girls, boys, and young people so they can explore, experiment, ask questions, and become familiar with energy and the challenges facing this sector—from electricity generation and transportation to the need to transform and decarbonize our economies,” said the organization’s Executive Secretary.
This event held special significance as Latin America and the Caribbean seek to strengthen the human capacities required to advance a just and inclusive energy transition. Although women’s participation in the energy sector has increased, they remain underrepresented in STEAM careers—science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
Beyond academic learning, the Open House represented a strategic effort to inspire early vocations in STEAM fields, encourage critical creativity, and help reduce gender gaps in highly specialized sectors such as energy and emerging technologies.
The event also featured female leaders from the scientific and technological fields who shared their professional journeys, demonstrating that talent and innovation know no gender. Their testimonies aimed to empower girls by reinforcing confidence in their professional potential, broadening their career aspirations, and challenging limiting traditional stereotypes.
“The Government of Ecuador is working to ensure that girls, boys, and young people have access to energy, because this is the century of energy and electricity. We will continue working so that they become the ones who lead the country into the future,” stated Ecuador’s Minister of Environment and Energy.
Authorities agreed that advancing an effective energy transition depends not only on investments and infrastructure, but also on educating citizens capable of understanding regional energy, climate, and technological challenges, developing creative solutions, and leading the transformations that the future demands.
With this first edition, OLACDE established a new regional platform designed to bring energy issues closer to the public through an inclusive and transformative educational approach, reaffirming its commitment to equitable development, opportunity creation, education, and the cultivation of talent capable of leading the future of energy in Latin America and the Caribbean.
During the educational event, students participated in workshops designed to provide practical understanding of technologies that are reshaping global energy systems. Participants visited thematic stations focused on hydrogen-based mobility, solar photovoltaic generation, energy efficiency, and energy conversion processes.
These activities were developed in partnership with leading academic institutions, including the National Polytechnic School, the International University of Ecuador, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, the H2 Grand Prix initiative, and Fundación Ingeniosas.
The 2026 OLACDE Open House brought together more than 150 children and young people and nearly 50 experts in science and technology, delivering a powerful message: the energy transition is not built solely in ministries, companies, or research centers—it also begins with childhood curiosity, discovering how solar panels work, assembling hydrogen-powered vehicles, and learning that energy can be a transformative force worldwide.
