Dar es Salaam. A rescue robotic designed to entry catastrophe zones past the attain of emergency employees, a low-cost cooling fan for low-income households and an excavator prototype have propelled three Tanzanian secondary faculties onto the continental stage after their creators gained a nationwide Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) innovation competitors.
The initiatives, developed by feminine college students from Kibasila, Jangwani and Charambe secondary faculties, secured Tanzania a spot within the African STEM competitors organised by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) via the Youth Exchange South to South (YESS) programme. The college students will now compete in opposition to younger innovators from throughout the continent.
The winners emerged after a months-long programme coordinated by the Tanzania Girl Guides Association (TGGA), which introduced collectively college students from 10 main and secondary faculties in Ilala and Temeke municipalities.
TGGA programme officer Valentina Gonza mentioned the competitors was designed to show that girls can develop sensible applied sciences able to bettering lives when given the proper alternatives.
“We wanted the girls to move beyond classroom learning and identify problems within their communities before designing practical solutions. What we have seen today proves that they are capable of innovating when they receive the necessary support,” she mentioned.
Ms Gonza mentioned the three faculties would signify Tanzania on the African competitors.
Although each main and secondary faculties participated, she mentioned the judges discovered that the secondary faculty college students introduced extra mature and technically superior initiatives.
“We had hoped to see winners from both education levels, but the secondary school teams demonstrated stronger innovation and better application of the skills they acquired during the training,” she mentioned.
Youth Exchange South to South (YESS) Girls’ Movement volunteer Iris Irakoze mentioned the programme had performed an vital position in constructing girls’ confidence in science and know-how.
“Initiatives like this give girls the confidence to explore their ideas without fear. We want them to realise that they can become scientists, engineers and innovators who contribute to solving problems in their communities,” she mentioned.
She added that the programme was serving to girls overcome concern and imagine of their talents.
“We want to see these young girls reach another level. We want to see them doing things that many people never imagined they could do,” she mentioned.
Another volunteer from Uganda, Agik Rachel, inspired the scholars to worth their schooling and the individuals supporting them, saying the alternatives they obtain at present may form their future.
“You grow up to become a young leader who can help change the world. Today, we have women leading organisations and participating in politics. Girls should know they can also reach those positions,” she mentioned.
For the scholars, the competitors represented greater than a possibility to win trophies. It was additionally an opportunity to problem stereotypes which have lengthy discouraged girls from pursuing careers in engineering, know-how and different science-related fields.
Jangwani Secondary School Form Four scholar Princess Jasmeen mentioned science and know-how had opened up new alternatives for girls.
“Girls have many creative ideas that can contribute to technological development. Programmes like this encourage us to turn those ideas into practical solutions,” she mentioned.
A Form Three scholar from Charambe Secondary School mentioned collaborating within the competitors had strengthened her confidence and satisfied her that gender ought to by no means decide profession selections.
“It has taught us that a girl can become an engineer, a doctor or a scientist if she is determined and believes in herself. We hope more girls will join STEM because they also have the ability to innovate,” she mentioned.