1Billion Africa (1BA) recently launched the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for Africa (S4A) project in Hwidiem in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region of Ghana.

The S4A project, which contributes Sustainable Development Goals 4, 5, 10 & 17 – Quality Education, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities, and Partnerships for Development, respectively, is a bold initiative

to raise young scientists and innovators from rural communities in Africa.

1Billion Africa, a non-profit civil society organisation in Africa, inspires and empowers Africa’s youth to be change-agents in their communities by finding problems and turning them into projects.

The S4A project in Hwidiem is funded under the Engineering X programme founded in partnership with Royal Academy of Engineering and Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

The Queen Mother, Nana Attaa Adwoa Agyeiwaa Kodie II, shared her commitment and vision of bringing quality education to Hwidiem, and why she believed the S4A project was helping to facilitate the initiative.

She applauded those funding the project and partners, and urged all stakeholders to commit to playing their roles diligently. She also urged parents to be involved, and student beneficiaries to take advantage of this golden opportunity to invest in their future.

“We are piloting this initiative in Hwidiem because of the immense support demonstrated by stakeholders during previous projects by 1BA in the district,”  Mr Prince Adu-Appiah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of 1Billion Africa, said.

1Billion Africa and its partners appealed to the government, institutions, companies and individuals, to help scale the project to other communities in Ghana.

For the next two years, the S4A project will capacitate 1,000 student beneficiaries in 10 schools in Hwidiem to go through a total of 52,000 hours of practical STEM tuition using the innovative Science Set toolkit

developed by Dext Technologies Limited.

The project targets school children between the ages of 10 -15 years, who are in upper primary and junior high school in Hwidiem.

A total of 15 STEM clubs would also be set up to further engage the students in other innovative STEM activities, as well as have further practical sessions with the toolkit, which can be used to perform over 30 experiments.

The experiments include; building mini-robots, circuit systems, security alarm systems, and solar panel models.

 Creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking skills to solve community problems is at the heart-beat of S4A, thus two Innovation Challenge competitions will be organised within the

project period.

 In addition, 50 girls selected from within the 1,000 beneficiaries will receive mentoring from STEM Champions in liaison with Synergies Institute – Sankofa Mentorship Hub.

1BA has implemented and inspired over 25 projects in three countries – Ghana, Namibia and South Africa – impacting over 12,000 people, the majority being youth, women and children.

Key project partners include; Dext Technology, Synergies Institute – Sankofa Mentorship Hub, Nana Attaa Agyeiwaa II Foundation, D S Dayta Solution, Hwidiem Traditional Council, the Asutifi South District Education, the District and Local Government Assemblies, and Community Leaders.