Age
14
Country of Residence
Kenya
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
The idea for our STEM Club started during our Pre-Technical lessons. Our teacher, Madam Violet, wanted us to learn more about computers and Scratch, so she would sometimes invite Mr. Keith, another teacher who is more experienced in computers and Scratch, to come and teach us. We would have one or two lessons with him and use the few tablets available at school. We really enjoyed the sessions, but they were short, and after he left, some of us still wanted to learn more. We fell in love with Scratch, computers and all the things we could create with technology. That is when we started thinking, “Why don't we have a STEM Club where we can continue learning?” We shared the idea with Tr Keith and he supported us. Through his help, we connected with the Riley Orton Foundation and asked if they could bring computers to our school and support us with weekly sessions. They agreed and now come to our school every Wednesday to teach us Scratch, AI, computer skills and other technology. That is how our STEM Club began. I became the chairperson, and I am proud that something as simple as a few computer lessons sparked an idea that has grown into a place where other students can learn and explore technology. For some of our members, it has even been their first time using a computer. As a girl, I also want the club to show other girls that technology is not only for boys.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
We encourage others by telling them about what we are doing and inviting them to come and see our sessions. That is how we connected with the Riley Orton Foundation. We shared what our club was doing, they visited and saw our work, and they decided to support us with laptops and facilitators. We also invite other students to visit our sessions and see what we are learning. Our members then share what they learn with their friends, especially computer skills, Scratch, AI and mathematics. Our teachers support us by guiding the club and helping us find new resources and partnerships. We also look for people and organizations who are interested in the same things we are doing and may be willing to support our goals.
How many people are on your team?
60
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Our STEM Club has about 60 members from Grades 7, 8 and 9. We started with just a few students 12 who were curious about technology, and it has slowly grown as more learners became interested. We have learned computer basics, word,excell, Scratch, AI . For some of our members, it was the first time they had ever used a computer. Seeing them become excited, ask questions and want to learn more has been one of the best parts of the club for me. We also have a mathematics session where we teach and help each other. It is nice to see students who may struggle with something in class getting help from their fellow students. We hope to grow the club next year and involve more learners, including younger students. I especially want to see more girls join and discover that they can enjoy and succeed in STEM too.
Project Category
My project is an existing project that I started
Project Stage
Growth (We’ve moved past the very first activities and are beginning to have consistent weekly or monthly impact)
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
Student-led STEM club where learners, especially girls, get hands-on opportunities to learn computers, Scratch, AI and other technology and math despite limited resources at our school.
Project title
STEM Club
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Many learners in our school are interested in technology, but we do not have enough computers or laptops for them to learn and practise. We have a few tablets, but they are not enough for everyone. Our school has a computer lab, but no computers, it is difficult for many students to get hands-on experience with technology. There is also a gap in girls' participation in technology and STEM. As a girl, I want other girls to know that computers, coding, STEM and mathematics are not only for boys. I have noticed that some girls in our school struggle with mathematics and often get low marks, which can make them lose confidence in the subject. This matters to me because I know how exciting it is when a student gets the opportunity to use a computer or understand something they previously found difficult. Through our STEM Club, we have also started creating opportunities for students to learn mathematics from one another. Under STEM Club we have math day every thursday. I want our school to be a place where every learner, especially girls, has the opportunity to explore technology, improve their skills and believe that they can succeed in STEM.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next year, we want to grow our STEM Club and reach as many JSS (grade7-9)students as possible, if we can. We want more students to have the chance to learn and use technology, not only the students who are already interested in it. We also want to look for more partners who can help us get computers and other equipment. Our school already has an ICT lab, but it does not have the computers and facilities we need. We hope to find partners who can help equip the lab so that students can use it regularly rather than once a week. We also want to continue working with the Riley Orton Foundation, grow our coding, AI and other STEM activities, and encourage more girls to join. Our biggest hope is to make technology something that more students in our school can actually experience, not just hear about.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
What makes our project different is that it was started by students to solve a problem in our own school. We did not have computers, but instead of waiting for them, we started with the few tablets we had and looked for partners who could help us. The students are also being trained by proffesional facilitators from Riley Orton Foundation hence getting the real skill ready for the job market in future but not just sticking to the curriculum. Through the Riley Orton Foundation, we now get laptops and facilitators every Wednesday. We also use peer-to-peer learning, where students teach and support each other, including in mathematics. As a girl and student leader, I also want to encourage more girls to take part in STEM. Our innovation is simply using the resources, partnerships and people around us to create STEM opportunities where they did not exist before.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
So far, the STEM Club at Manyatta Arab School has helped us learn computer basics, Scratch, AI and Canva. For some students, it has been their first time learning how to use a computer. This has made many of us more interested and confident in technology and has encouraged us to keep learning and even havevpassion in computer carrer courses such as developers. The club also gives us a chance to learn from each other, through peer to peer teaching including through our mathematics sessions usually on Thursday a separate day. What we are learning connects with what we study in class and supports the CBC, especially in developing digital skills, creativity, problem-solving and collaboration. For me, one of the biggest impacts is seeing students who had little experience with computers becoming curious and excited to learn more. There is some sweet feeling seeing someone who feared computer falling in love with it.
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Our team is made up of about 60 students from Grades 7–9. I am the chairperson, and we work together and teach each other through peer-to-peer learning. Our teacher, Mr. Keith, guides us and helps us find resources and opportunities for the club. The Riley Orton Foundation also supports us by bringing laptops and facilitators for our weekly sessions. We all contribute in different ways and learn from one another.
