Josimar Madrigal

Josimar Madrigal smiling while posing inside the giant red

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Connecting Communities Through Tech and Leadership

Josimar Madrigal’s path to the Youth Ambassadors (YA) program was a testament to resilience from the very start. When complex administrative documentation challenges delayed his passport application in 2024, Josimar and his family refused to let the setback stall his dreams. Supported by CIED, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, and the U.S. Department of State, Josimar secured a selection deferral for 2025. Rather than waiting passively, he threw himself into civic action: maintaining top academic marks, earning election as President of his school’s Student Electoral Board (Tribunal Electoral Estudiantil), and representing his peers in the Caribe Young Parliament 2024.

When Josimar arrived in Cleveland, Ohio in Fall 2025, the exchange served as an extraordinary launchpad for his passion for technology and community service. At Case Western Reserve University’s Sears think[box], he immersed himself in social entrepreneurship. Beyond the classroom, his homestay provided profound personal inspiration. Josimar formed a deep bond with his host father, Mr. Garvin, whose stories of growing up in Trinidad and Tobago instilled lessons on perseverance and dedication.

Josimar Madrigal seated at a dining table sharing a meal and conversation with his host parents, Mr. Garvin and his host mother, in Cleveland.
Josimar Madrigal sharing a meal and conversation with his host parents and fellow Youth Ambassador in Cleveland, Ohio.

During his stay, an unexpected moment sparked a creative breakthrough: watching his host family’s dogs use communication buttons encouraged Josimar to reimagine how technology could bridge human communication gaps.

Upon returning home to Costa Rica, Josimar turned that spark into life-changing technology. He led the development of #MoodyApp, an alternative communication mobile app on designed to empower neurodivergent individuals and anyone facing speech difficulties, including children with autism. Moody captured national attention, placing in the Top 5 at Costa Rica’s prestigious ExpoTécnica competition.

Josimar Madrigal and his teammates stand behind their "Moody" app display table at a student innovation showcase in Costa Rica.
Josimar Madrigal and his team present “Moody,” an alternative communication app designed for neurodivergent individuals, during a student technology showcase in Costa Rica.

Building on this success, Josimar captained his high school robotics team at a national Sumobot tournament, proudly branding their robot with graphic designs from the Moody app. Passionate about lifting others up as he grows, Josimar actively mentored and instructed younger students in robotics, introducing them to coding and engineering.

A close-up view of the educational Sumobot robot model, customized with visual graphics and branding from the Moody communication app.
Merging STEM with advocacy: The Sumobot programmed by Josimar’s team, branded with visual graphics from their award-winning alternative communication app Moody.

Josimar’s drive for community impact extended far beyond technology. Alongside his fellow Costa Rican Youth Ambassador cohort, he collaborated on their collective capstone project, “En busca de sonrisas” (In Search of Smiles), mobilizing local youth to rebuild a dilapidated neighborhood playground and create a safe space for children to play.

He went on to deliver his Access Microscholarship Program graduation speech entirely in English at the Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC), secured a spot in Stanford University’s virtual Code in Place program, and joined the Scout movement, earning a Civic Participation Certification through the Youth Guide and Scout Parliament (Parlamento Joven Guía y Scout).

Josimar Madrigal wearing his official Costa Rican Scout uniform while participating in a youth leadership event.
Leading through service: Josimar proudly wearing his Scout uniform, continuing his dedication to civic action and youth leadership in Costa Rica.

Reflecting on how the program shaped his trajectory, Josimar shared with us:

“Youth Ambassadors prepared me so much for these achievements. It expanded my vision of what I can aspire to do. I look forward to keeping my profile active with my projects and staying connected with the alumni community.”

Looking to the future, Josimar plans to pursue a degree in Computer Engineering, and we cannot wait to celebrate his future achievements and successes!