JA Africa Receives Google Grant

October 25, 2015

Google has awarded JA Africa an in-kind grant in the form of consultants who will develop a new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum designed specifically for the realities of life in sub-Saharan Africa. 
 
JA Africa has recognized a particular need to raise the STEM capabilities of the next generation of leaders and prepare them for careers in STEM that leverage design thinking, diversity/inclusion, and lean methodology, and that challenge students to improve their communities by solving real, local problems.

This innovative Initiative will target high school students and will encompass two elements:
 
◆ A one-day STEM Career Campaign that will raise awareness of STEM career opportunities and promote work readiness skills; create an opportunity for students to interact through a competitive challenge; and foster public speaking, team building, and problem solving skills.

◆ A 6- to 8-week STEM Innovation Program, during which students will have the opportunity to fully develop the solution they identified during the one-day campaign, and will engage in interactive lectures aimed at building their STEM capabilities and preparing them for jobs in STEM fields.
 
JA Africa will pilot this initiative in Ghana, and then expand to our other African member countries.
 
In addition to creating a student manual, Google consultants will develop a comprehensive facilitator's manual, which will provide all the necessary documentation for organizing and implementing the one-day campaign, as well as the full instructional program. The work of the consultants on this project will lay the critical groundwork for training the youth in Ghana as STEM innovators and problem solvers.