Kenya Flying Labs Plants Seeds of Innovation with the Tuhamasishe STEM Program

At Kenya Flying Labs, training is central to our mission of building skills and empowering future generations. Through hands-on education, we inspire inclusive participation in emerging technologies, ensuring that communities across Kenya have the opportunity to engage with innovative tools that shape the world around them. Our activities serve not only to impart knowledge but also to drive community empowerment and bridge gaps in access to technology.

Bringing STEM to Life with Local Schools

On June 17th and June 21st, 2024, we organized youth-led activities as part of the Tuhamasishe STEM Program, funded by Eurofins Foundation and supported by WeRobotics. The sessions took place at Alliance Girls High School, a prestigious public girls' school, and ACK Kambaru Mixed High School, a rural day school. A total of 78 students participated, with 53% being female. Most of the students, aged 14 to 21, were in their final year of high school, making this an ideal time to explore STEM career options and ignite their interest in emerging technologies like drones.

How We Structured the Program

The training was part of the "Map My School" program, which introduced students to the basics of drones. The theory portion covered the fundamentals—what a drone is, different types of drones by design, and the components that make up a drone. It also highlighted real-world use cases. Following this foundation, the students delved into technical applications, learning about data analysis and how to operate drones in both manual and autonomous flight modes. The highlight of the training was creating an orthomosaic map of their schools, offering students a tangible example of how drone technology can be applied to solve real-world problems.

Empowering Students and the Community

This training equipped students with practical skills that go beyond the classroom. By introducing young minds to drone technology and its applications, we are not only giving them tools for potential careers but also sparking creativity in how they can use these skills to address local challenges. For the communities involved, this represents a step toward technological empowerment, opening new paths for innovation, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving. It also supports Kenya Flying Labs’ mission of promoting inclusivity in technology, ensuring that even students in rural areas have access to cutting-edge STEM experiences.

Lessons Learned and Looking Forward

While the sessions were a resounding success, there were challenges in ensuring that all students received adequate hands-on experience with the technology due to the large number of participants. This highlighted the need for smaller group sessions in future programs to provide more focused learning. The "Map My School" activity was the second phase of the Tuhamasishe STEM Program. The first phase involved a stakeholder engagement breakfast meeting, and we are now gearing up for the final phase—a STEM Fair. This event will bring together students, teachers, guardians, and other stakeholders to showcase the program’s progress and discuss ways to sustain and expand these impactful activities.

Acknowledgments

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our key partners and donors, Eurofins Foundation and WeRobotics, whose generous support made this program possible. Special appreciation also goes to YACA, Alliance Girls High School, ACK Kambaru Mixed High School, and USIU for their collaboration in bringing these activities to life. Stay tuned as we continue to plant the seeds of innovation and nurture the next generation of STEM leaders in Kenya!