Expanding Boundaries International (EBI), a United States-based organization, along with its local partners, Rural Smile Foundation and Richard Akoto, aims to provide access and opportunities to children in deprived communities worldwide and also to provide financial support to keep impacting the lives of Africa and the world’s future innovators.
EBI is aimed at empowering students in Africa and inner-cities in America to appreciate and tune their mindset towards pursuing careers in the STEAM sector and solve complex problems of the world, especially that of their local communities.
For the past three years, Expanding Boundaries International has engaged with students in Ejura/Sekyedumase in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) educational activities. The original intent was to create a two weeks STEAM camp in the United States for the students.
However, due to financial difficulties and the Covid-19 pandemic, things had to be re-evaluated. As students were stuck home during the pandemic, EBI and its partners began engaging them in virtual activities. Funding was made available to purchase internet data and shipping webcams and microphone headphones for each participant.
EBI understands that students from deprived communities do not have the luxury of connecting to science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and mathematics opportunities. The lack thereof affects the creativity of the student.
After several virtual sessions with beneficiary students in Ejura/ Sekyedumase with virtual interaction, representatives of EBI decided to visit and engage with students and affectionately called on explorers to physically connect and understand more about their community and engagement in in-person STEAM activities.
On Monday, 28th June 2021, a team from EBI met with students from Rural Smile Foundation, Betenase JHS, Ejura RC JHS, instructors/teachers, and volunteers to officially engage with both kids and their teachers including volunteers. There were a series of activities that took the students through together with their teachers and the volunteers.
The theme for the engagement is Critical Thinking and Team building which is to enlighten explorers to always look at alternative solutions based on critical thinking. Beneficiaries were engaged on how to build a battery, solar, and wind-powered operated cars with the notion that there are many means to getting electricity and allowing the explorers to explore, which is more potent in terms of speed and accessibility.
In groups Of five (5), the explorers worked together, allowing them to pick team leads, following instructions, and building communication skills for group work.
In addition, we held a career mentoring session – students learned about the many careers in STEAM.
Beneficiaries had the opportunity to connect with professionals in STEAM careers to learn about their journey to such fields. The career mentoring session made explorers realized that a job in STEAM is possible because they have heard from Ghanaians who are either working in Ghana or overseas share their career journey.
Interactive learning which is one of the core focuses of EBI, explorers embarked on a field trip to Kumasi Technical University where they had the opportunity to engage with professors at the Electrical /Electronic Engineering Department to learn what it takes to pursue Engineering.
The camp ended with a community health screening in Ejura administered by the OKB Hope Foundation. Health is wealth, and we understand the shortcoming of our health facilities in Ghana and the limited check-ups done by citizens. We took this opportunity to educate the community, screen them on diabetes and hypertension.
Overall, the feedback was very positive, and EBI’s desire to continue engaging with the explorers online on google classroom while we prepare for next year’s visit. The opportunity to partner with EBI is open to all.
Source: Abubakari Gafar/Thriller News Gh