This project will provide opportunities for pre-k to 10th grade students to tinker, design, build and explore in order to solve local problems. They are exposed to basic coding, robotics and creatively solving science, technology, engineering and math concepts instead of just learning the theory. In South Africa 66,8% of children live in poverty. This project will give 100 children tools to break out of the cycle of poverty. Education helps people to move out of survival mode into thriving mode!
Poverty! 30.4 million South Africans live below the poverty line. More than half of the youth in South Africa do not have the financial means to pay for tuition. Due to low quality education in lower grades, they are unable to qualify for educational scholarships. 18% aged 18-24 who are not attending educational institutions argue that poor academic performance prevented them from participating in higher education. 79.2% of South African adults with no education lived in poverty.
Studies have shown that the higher a person's qualification, the more likely they are to be employed and absorbed in the formal labour force, and therefore, are less susceptible to falling into poverty. Children will be given access to Science Technology Engineering Math skills which they are not exposed to in their local schools. They will learn creative problem-solving skills and an increased interest in pursuing a STEM career. They will tackle local problems like renewable energy solutions.
It's just wrong that children may stay stuck in the cycle of poverty because they don't have access to quality education. This project will provide the opportunity for 100 children facing a hopeless future stuck in poverty to be given skills and tools that will help them to turnaround their own cycle of poverty. Long-term impact includes increased career options and economic prosperity. Increased rates of university attendance and hope restored through a quantifiable vision of their future.
