The development of innovations of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) projects in Forum for African Women Educationalists partner schools has helped in addressing community problems in Uganda.
The STEM club activities are facilitated by research, mentorship, and peer learning, whereby participating students from different schools create ideas, try out and translate them into different innovations that are showcased in both their schools and in regional STEM competitions.
Creators of the best innovations are selected to represent their regions in national and international competitions. As a result, learners who have developed innovations proven to work at addressing community needs have scaled up their projects to earn income by selling them to members of the community.
At St. Catherine S.S. in Lira district, a student, Aguta Rebecca, created a bicycle power charging system that is used to charge telephones in rural communities with limited electricity supply. She has been able to make eight systems, which she sold each for UGX 35,000. The cost of making one is UGX 11,000, making a profit of UGX 24,000 per each. From this innovation, she has saved about UGX 280,000.
In another school, YY. Okot Secondary School in Kitgum district, Northern Uganda, a team of STEM club members innovated a local refrigerator using charcoal. The refrigerator was sold to a private medical facility for medicine preservation at a cost of UGX 300,000. This money was used to facilitate STEM Club activities.
At Iganga Secondary School in Eastern Uganda, STEM club members took on growing vegetables such as ‘Sukuma Wiiki’ (collard greens) and eggplants which they supply to their school to feed fellow students. It was stated that the school pays for the supplies and they have made a total of UGX 1,800,000. The money was used to support club activities including procuring raw materials for the development of innovations, facilitating exchange learning visits, and a small stipend for the club members.
Source: FAWE
Photo source: Ron Mader
