Boot camp for science students

Early last month students from different regions in Tanzania had a 4th Annual S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Youth Boot Camp at St. Joseph University, Dar es Salaam. More than 66 secondary school students, from O-level and A-level across 12 regions in the country took part in the five-day camp, which was prepared by ProjeKt Inspire.

The five days camp, held under the theme: “Smart Agriculture: A tool to end hunger; achieve food security and improve nutrition”, was a perfect opportunity for students to learn and brainstorm on various career paths.

During the camp, students were divided into four groups, representing S.T.E.M in a bid to cultivate and develop their interest in the field, sparking their creativity and research skills which would in turn lead them to job creation and poverty alleviation.

According to Marc Thayre, the Head of Political Press and Public Affairs at the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam, S.T.E.M is the solution of all problems and Boot Camps are part of the solution. “S.T.E.M subjects are crucial for sustainable development of every country and society in the world. It is good for students to learn and gain both in theory and practical knowledge,” said Thayre.

They challenged participants to think about their future and keep on trying to achieve their goals, urging them to live with the experience they get from Boot Camps. “It is not the end, but it is just the beginning. You should be role models for millions of girls and boys across the country, who want to put their creative ideas into innovations but they don’t know how to go about it,” he says.

For his part, Prof Burton Mwamila, the Vice Chancellor at St. Joseph University, says the Boot Camp has helped in motivating students to learn science subjects. According to him, during the five-day camp, students were given the opportunity to use university laboratories for problem solving. “After the Camp we discovered that there are many students who want to study science subjects,” he says.

Rose Rwegasira, a Form Six student from Kisimiri Secondary School in Arusha, says before attending the Boot Camp, she had always had the notion that science subjects are not only difficult but also a male domain. “Being one among the female students who participated in ProjeKt Inspire, I found that my views on science subjects were not correct,” says Rose, who is studying Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) combination in her A-level studies.

“In order to attract more girls to study S.T.E.M subjects from the lower level, there should be deliberate efforts to erode from their mind the stereotypes they have about science subjects. One way to encourage and inspire girls is to give them an audience with people and experts who would be their role models.

Young female scientists or graduates who took S.T.E.M subjects in school can talk to and inspire teenage girls to consider pursuing science subjects from O-level up to A-level,” she adds.

Johari Kassele, a Form Six student from Benjamin William Mkapa Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, whose project was about hydrogen stove that runs by water and salt, says she did the project after seeing that the renewable environmental friendly energy source like gas for domestic consumption is expensive for most people to afford.

“I thought of the solution to this and came up with hydrogen stove to solve the problem in my community and also minimise air pollution and deforestation,” she says.

“Hydrogen stove is going to be more affordable due to its use of cheap and available resources, which are water, salt and a very small amount of power,” she adds.

Former Tanzania Women Bank director, Magreth Chacha, who attended the event to inspire girl students, urged participants to explore challenges and turn them into opportunities.

She challenged students to get inspired by what others before them have accomplished before they, too, can inspire others. “You need to have a roadmap, action plan and a schedule to execute your plan,” she adds.