Home / Education / Kenyan Kids Build Robots for Space & Surgery
Kenyan Kids Build Robots for Space & Surgery
6 Feb
Summary
- Rural students in Kenya are inspired by a robotics program.
- Robots designed for agriculture and medical assistance.
- The program aims to foster critical thinking and tech creation.
Students in Laikipia, Kenya, are being inspired by a unique rural robotics program. Jeremiah Kithinji, who initially had no computer access, now runs robotics clubs for approximately 200 pupils in this northern Kenyan region. These clubs have enabled some students to participate in international competitions, including the World Robotics Olympiad in Singapore.
Kithinji hopes that robotics can offer solutions to Kenya's specific needs, such as agricultural automation and medical assistance in rural hospitals. The program, supported by the US nonprofit Science in a Suitcase, aims to instill a mindset of technological creation among the youth.
Natalia Wangari, a 14-year-old student, envisions robots assisting in complex surgeries in the future. Kithinji emphasizes that the skills developed, including critical thinking and problem-solving, are vital for Kenya's advancement, encouraging students to be technology creators rather than just consumers.
