Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, fourth generation of the LEGO family owner and chairman of its Direct Board, said, "I am delighted to award the Lego prize® this year to María Adelaida López to defend learning through play in early childhood development in Colombia and Latin America and to inspire and encourage its wide network in the early childhood development space to bring learning through play to thousands of children".

Led by María Adelaida López, the Colombian social enterprise aeioTU works for more than 14 years with the Educational Model aeioTU, which recognizes children as protagonist and co-constructor of their learning, building their confidence and security to explore, research, investigate and create from their participation in learning through playful experiences. In addition to offering programs to help families, educators, principals and directors understand why play is so important and what their role can be to help Early Childhood get the most benefits. The work of aeioTU is designed to strengthen skills by introducing new techniques while ensuring that existing local best practices are supported and shared among communities.

María Adelaida is the first Colombian to receive this important recognition and during his speech he highlighted the encouragement that this award brings to continue strengthening the work for quality education for children under 5.

"In aeioTU we exalt diversity and connect with the power of the collective, close social gaps, strengthen culture, listen to educators, influence the families of children, empower our staff, mobilizing other actors around our vision of ecosystem change and influencing public policy, which has allowed us to become the leading social enterprise of the early childhood ecosystem. Today we have impacted the lives of more than 500,000 children, this award is an incentive to continue working with and for children, to continue our mission to transform communities".

Since 1985, the LEGO‍ Award has been awarded to individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to children’s lives and the transformation of education. The prize is accompanied by a cash recognition of $100,000 USD to promote research and development within learning through play. With these resources, the aeioTU team will work on a project to implement circular economy strategies where, with recovered material, pedagogical tools for Early Childhood will be created. The project will be carried out with teachers, families and children of Ciudad Bicentenario in Cartagena Colombia.

"The LEGO Foundation has meant a lot to the growth and strengthening of aeioTU, and also to my own personal and professional development. Having the LEGO Foundation by my side, building together a better, playful and more meaningful present for children, their educators and their families, has opened up opportunities for aeioTU to help end the cycle of poverty for thousands of children, and empower the education system in our beloved country, Colombia, as well as in Panama and Mexico". María Adelaida López, Executive Director of aeioTU.