Airtel, Ghana’s leading CSR Company for Education, has in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and the Exploratory – an initiative of the African Women Advocacy Project – activated the third phase of its Evolve with STEM initiative with the inauguration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Clubs for three schools within the Ablekuma Central Circuit.

The Clubs will provide a practical and fun way for pupils to learn and engage with STEM outside of the classroom and provide the over 100 signed up pupils from the Holy Family Catholic, Anglican and Mataheko JT Schools the opportunity to engage in practical activities, undertake projects and learn basic computer coding and programming.

Club members also have the opportunity to participate in educational tours, STEM experiential fairs and activity based learning to expand their thinking and entrench what they learn in the classrooms.

Dr. Connie Chow, founder and lead at the Exploratory said “These clubs will build on the lessons pupils take in the classroom and provide an informal and experiential environment for them to learn and grow. Club activities are hands-on and fun. Club members will be working on individual and group projects in STEM that they can showcase to their peers and parents. We [The Exploratory] are excited to be partnering Airtel Ghana on the Evolve with STEM project to impact the lives of young people. Airtel Ghana has demonstrated its commitment to education and to promoting STEM through this initiative”.

Airtel Ghana’s Managing Director, reigning CIMG Marketing Woman of the Year and the Telecom CEO of the Year, Lucy Quist said “Over the last 6 months we have spent time with more than 1,000 pupils from the Mataheko Cluster of schools and beyond to inspire belief and transform mindsets about STEM. We also invested in building capacity, sharpening the skills of our STEM teachers and empower them to shape the minds of our young people.

Today, we are launching the third phase of this initiative through the inauguration of the STEM Clubs. Through these clubs, we are providing an avenue for our children to learn by doing, to experiment, to explore and to get involved in practical, hands-on projects that will shape their minds and empower them to fully realise their potentials.

She continued “At Airtel Ghana, we believe in providing the platform for young people to fully realise their potential. This is why we continue to invest in education through our Schools Adoption programme and the Evolve with STEM initiative to shape the minds that will shape our future as a country and continent”.

She continued “I want to extend my appreciation and that of Airtel Ghana to the CIMG for their support and endorsement of this initiative, to our partners and all those who have supported us along the way specifically the Exploratory, the Rotary Club of Tema, Novan Education, Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation, the Circuit Supervisor and Head teachers of the various schools under the Ablekuma Central Circuit and to all employees of Airtel Ghana who continuously making us a true force for good”.

Mentoring session

As part of the programme, Airtel Ghana’s Director for projects, Hilary Arko-Dadzie, inspired and challenged pupils to believe in themselves and to strive for excellence in everything they do.

STEM kit donation

Airtel Ghana made a donation of books, STEM kits and other learning materials to the support the STEM clubs.

The STEM fair

A STEM Fair was organized in partnership with various organisations that work to promote STEM and innovation in the country such as The Exploratory, STEM Centre, GH Scientific, Novan Education and ThreeSixtyGh.

Employees of Airtel Ghana also participated in the fair, taking pupils through experiments to bring to life what they learn in their classrooms.

Airtel Ghana is renowned for its contribution to education in Ghana having received several awards in CSR including Best CSR Company for Education at the Ghana CSR Excellence Awards 2015.

Evolve with STEM has impacted the lives of over 1000 pupils and some teachers through inspirational talks, experiential exercises and capacity building for teachers.