Erick Xavier Maldonado

Erick Xavier Maldonado Caballero is a young changemaker from El Salvador who grew up in a community with limited access to education and professional opportunities. From an early age, he understood that education would be the key to breaking cycles of poverty and creating a better future, not just for himself, but for his entire community.

His life changed when he was selected to join ¡Supérate! ADOC, a rigorous scholarship program that trains high-potential youth in English, computer science, and values. Through ¡Supérate!, Erick gained the academic tools and confidence to chase opportunities beyond what he once thought possible. The program opened the doors to his first international experience as a Youth Ambassador of the U.S. Embassy, which allowed him to participate in a cultural and leadership exchange in Washington, D.C., and Denver, Colorado.

Inspired by this transformative experience, Erick co-founded AOS (Access to Opportunities for Self-Improvement), a youth-led initiative that empowers rural Salvadoran communities through free workshops on leadership, entrepreneurship, English, digital literacy, and social action. One of his flagship projects is English in Action, which currently provides English lessons to over 160 students in public schools, taught by young volunteers from programs like ¡Supérate!. He has also led a basic computer course called Office Ready!, created the children's education and storytelling project Sueños y Letras, and coordinated events to promote literacy, gender equity, and violence prevention.

Erick is currently pursuing a degree in Economics and Data Analytics at John Brown University in Arkansas, USA, as an international scholarship holder of the Walton International Program. He has gained practical experience through an internship in business operations at DURAMÁS S.A. de C.V. and volunteered with the Turks and Caicos delegation during the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, contributing over 150 hours of service.

Erick has represented El Salvador at global platforms including TFAS Prague in the Czech Republic, the Istanbul Youth Summit in Turkey, where he was awarded Best Male Presenter, and now at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) Indiana 2025. He believes deeply in building bridges between youth and opportunity and remains committed to using education, entrepreneurship, and innovation as tools for lasting change.