Jennifer Crizantos

Jennifer Crizantos is redefining what it means to be a future educator – and innovator. Hailing from Ecuador, she is a first-year student of Early Childhood Education at the Universidad Técnica de Machala, but her work already spans award-winning tech design, social entrepreneurship, and national leadership in inclusive education.

Her journey began at the Unidad Educativa Seis de Octubre, where she discovered a love for technology and its power to make learning more dynamic. This early passion led her to develop Gamificando Ando, a video game designed to help children learn about the Ecuadorian national emblem in a fun, engaging way. The game, which blends civic education with gamification, earned her first place at the 2023 Binational Science and Technology Fair and set her on a path of public recognition and impact.

But it was her 2024 project, the ARDUIN CHAIR, that captured national attention. Developed with her colleagues and mentor Jorge Patric Peña, this app-controlled smart wheelchair allows people with reduced mobility to move around independently. The prototype won the CREA National Fair, received official recognition from the Ministry of Education, and allowed Jennifer to take an educational visit to the Galapagos Islands. More importantly, it sparked a movement: Jennifer released the code as open source and is actively sharing it with developers around the world, inviting them to adapt and improve the design to make it more accessible.

Her commitment goes beyond innovation. Jennifer founded The Classroom of the Future, a YouTube channel where she publishes tutorials and educational content to help students and teachers integrate technology into education. She believes that inclusive, fun, and interactive tools should be part of every child's learning experience—and she is building that future herself.

Despite facing financial hardship and limited access to advanced tools, Jennifer has turned constraints into creativity. She’s used public libraries, free online platforms, and teamwork to overcome barriers and bring her ideas to life. Now, she hopes to use recognition and funding to scale ARDUIN CHAIR, support her former school with tech infrastructure, and one day launch a start-up developing accessible, sustainable technologies for underserved communities.

Jennifer’s story is not only about gadgets or coding – it’s about care. Her mission is rooted in empathy and inclusion, fuelled by the belief that no one should be left behind in the classroom, on the street, or in life. As she blends early childhood education with cutting-edge innovation, Jennifer Crizantos stands as a remarkable voice for the next generation of changemakers.