Five young Panamanian women who participated in the CyberWizards cybersecurity camp in Estonia in August 2025, supported by the EU-funded LAC4 project, report that the experience decisively shaped their academic and career paths, with several now committed to studying cybersecurity or software engineering. In a press release published on 27 July 2026 by the EU Delegation to Panama, the participants describe how the camp boosted their confidence, language skills, and interest in technology, and note that LAC4 continues to sponsor similar participation for young women from the Bahamas this year.
The camp, organised by Estonia's Information System Authority, brought together over 80 girls from ten countries for a week of team-based digital skills training. For Katherin Camacho, who initially planned to study aviation, the camp led her to choose cybersecurity instead. Saret Medina, previously torn between veterinary science and architecture, now intends to pursue a career in cybersecurity after graduation. Janna Ramos, who doubted her technical competence, now aims to study software engineering. Daniela Camargo confirmed her interest in digital forensics, while Yaizara Aurora discovered a passion for teaching technology to peers with fewer opportunities.
Participants emphasised the importance of such initiatives in addressing gender imbalance in tech. Janna Ramos noted that CyberWizards demonstrated the value of training girls in a field still dominated by men. Yaizara Aurora observed that many of her female friends lack access to tech education, while boys her age appear better informed. The young women also highlighted practical skills gained: teamwork, independent travel, and English communication. Daniela Camargo valued learning to organise herself abroad, while Janna Ramos used her camp experience to give a presentation at her new school, sparking interest among classmates.
The press release marks one year since the August 2025 camp and underscores the EU's ongoing support for digital inclusion in Latin America through the LAC4 project. No prior coverage of this initiative exists in the available record.