By James Musyoka | Field Director and Director of Operations
2016 has had a busy start at Kenya Connect! Students from Kambiti and Mbaikini Primary schools have been taking STEAM lessons on 3D printing and creating video games at the Learning Resource Center (LRC). These classes have been implemented through a partnership between Kenya Connect and Level Up Village (LUV), a U.S. educational non-profit that aims to build relationships between students in the U.S. with their peers in other countries through STEAM-related projects.
In the 3D printing classes, our students have been busy utilizing a computer-aided design software; Tinkacard, to design and print their own creations on our new Polar 3D printer. Kenya Connect is very excited to have our new 3D printer. 3D printing is the future of manufacturing and engineering, according to many, and designs printed on 3D printers are already solving problems in fields as diverse as medicine and fashion design. With our 3D printing initiative, we hope our students will be inspired to one day contribute to the burgeoning 3D printing movement especially in a country like Kenya that have been lacking manufacturing equipment.
Together with Level Up Village, Kenya Connect staff is facilitating meaningful exchanges between Mbaikini and Kambiti students and students in U.S. Our students are always very excited to write to and read letters from their American pen pals and learn more about life across the Atlantic. They also record video diaries in which they pose questions for their American peers and provide updates on their 3D printed designs. This is truly a unique experience for our students, and most are thrilled to be able to partake in the video diary sessions.
The American and Kenyan students are able to collaborate on real-world problems via the 3D printing class. For our Kenyan students, one of the most pressing day-to-day problems is the lack of access to electricity. The class has helped foster a problem-solving mentality in the students, and the students were able to design a solar light kit which will be able to offer light at night. Now, the students will be able to do their homework and read books at night with the help of their 3D printed solar light!
"I am so excited to design my own solar light to do my homework during the night. I wish I could make many to share with students in my school." Mataka, Student at Kambiti Primary school
At the same time, Kenya Connect also begun hosting a new school, Makaalu Primary, whose students have started learning basic computer operations under Mr. Patrick’s patient guidance. Over the next few months, the students will be able to perform word processing as well as navigate the Internet. Since this is the first time these students have ever touched a computer, we must start small, but we are excited to be able to introduce Makaalu students to the world of technology.
We will continue to provide updates as the other projects funded by our 2015 “What’s Under the Tree” campaign get underway. We are grateful to you all for supporting the children of Wamunyu as they learn to be creative with cutting edge technology while sharing their ideas with their peers around the world. Thank your support!
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