There is no shortage of brilliant minds the world over and what often lacks is an avenue for them to channel their ideas and bring them to fruition. There is also no shortage of problems unique to each region, that can be solved using locally engineered technology.
Kenya is no exception to this, and we have a vibrant youth with great ideas in all spheres that affect our lives. Areas like agriculture, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and technology. Our youth are innovative, and they have energy to work and contribute to the growth of not only their immediate families and communities, but the national economy as well.
What we do have a shortage of to an extent is a space where ideas from our youth are met with expert mentorship and further training towards fruition. Not to say that there is no effort being put towards this at all. There is a lot. But in a country whose education system is churning out hundreds of thousands of young learners every year, interventions towards their futures can never really be enough.
One of the interventions that aims to meet the youth in the middle as far as enhanced literacy in engineering is concerned is a partnership between the European Union and Gearbox. In October last year with the support of EU, Gearbox stepped in to empower young engineers in Kenya by offering a two-month scholarship program for 26 candidates at the Gearbox Academy. Through this sponsorship, learners will learnt about workshop technology, digital design and fabrication, and embedded systems.
The curriculum involves embedded systems, digital design and fabrication, and workshop technology. In Embedded systems, students get to learn how to write code for micro controllers, Internet of Things, design using software like Eagle and KiCard, and fabrication components.
Digital design and fabrication teaches students how to use CAD softwares for precision designing and output. They also learn about fabrication machines like the Plasma cutter, as well as design principles so that at the end of the course, they are able to understand materials and machines when fabricating.
The third course in the curriculum is workshop technology which involves workshop processes like metal cutting and bending, using power and hydraulic tools and generally knowing the operations of a workshop.
Adding this knowledge to people who already have talent for technical work is a huge plus and will play an important role in creating employment. This gives school leavers hope for the future, especially those who do not necessarily want to pursue white collar jobs. This program sits very well with the rising popularity of TVET, where the young are getting to learn skills that will make them competent in a job market that is increasingly growing as constructions and other developments increase.
By having all these encased in technology, learners are getting prepared to operate in the current world where technology is a corner stone.