Christmas came early for young students at the Demonstration School for the Deaf and the Akropong School for the Blind, as Telecel Ghana Foundation organised a robotics training session followed by a cheerful Christmas party for over 600 students from both institutions.

Held on the premises of the Demonstration school for the Deaf in Mampong - Akuapem to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the initiative gave 100 Deaf students exposure and hands-on experience with designing and building walking robots, understanding electrical sources for motion and mobility robotics and the power of artificial intelligence.

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills training was facilitated by Mingo Foundation and Telecel’s internal resource group, Ladies in Technology.

All students who took part in the training received a free robotic kit to practise what they learned.

“With the STEM training, we want to ensure that students with disabilities are included in Ghana’s digital talent pipeline by giving them practical skills and the confidence to pursue opportunities in technology,” said Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications at Telecel Ghana.

“Beyond learning, we wanted to connect energies, celebrate the festive season and create beautiful memories together.”

The telco’s dedicated customer service team for Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers, known as Telecel Super Care, provided sign language interpretation during the STEM sessions and encouraged the students to consider careers in Ghana’s growing technology sector.

After the STEM training, the energy on campus shifted from learning to full celebration as Telecel staff volunteers, teachers, and students gathered for a massive Christmas party.

Santa handed out gifts including stationery, sweets and adaptive toys, with staff volunteers serving food and joining the children in multiple talent competitions.

Headmaster of the Demonstration School for the Deaf, Setumte Ametewee, said the initiative offered valuable exposure to digital skills that the students often lack access to.

“For too long, Deaf and Blind students have been relegated to the background, so this initiative is helpful because it gives them the hands-on and first-hand feel of how robotics and technology work.

"They rely a lot on what they see or feel to make meaning of the things around them; hence, the training and party euphoria are making them feel valued.”

A cross-section of the students described the training as enlightening and said that it had sparked their interest in learning more about robotics and careers in the STEM field.

Makafui Ahiave is a final year junior high school student and the girls’ prefect of the Demonstration School for the Deaf.

She said the STEM training was one of the exciting moments in her life, and it felt amazing learning about robotics.

“We learnt about how to put components of robotics together, and it has made me more skilful. I now have more interest in technology and would practise more with the robotics kit I have been given,” she said.

Telecel Foundation said the initiative, which forms part of its Connected Learning pillar, reflects an ongoing commitment to supporting students with disabilities through education, technology, and meaningful community engagement.

For last year’s celebration, the Foundation hosted a hands-on training session in robotics for Deaf students at the Tetteh Ocloo State School for the Deaf in Adjei Kojo within the Tema West municipality.

The Director of Human Resources at Telecel Ghana, Rachael Appenteng, believes the students’ exposure to robotics and career opportunities in STEM is a way of closing the digital gap and preparing their minds for a digital future.

“This is more than an annual observance for Telecel. It is part of our responsibility and our diversity and inclusion strategy to build a diversified talent pipeline to feed our industry.

"It’s also all about showing these Deaf and Blind students that they belong in every work field, including technology, and I encourage other organisations to build an enabling and inclusive workforce,” she added.