Foundervine has launched the Ghana Science and Technology Challenge prize, a skills development programme designed to develop the skills and talents of young people in basic schools.

The challenge which is set to run for three years will bring together young people from basic schools to serve as ambassadors. They will be trained and mentored to harness and shape their talents.

Speaking to Joy Business, Managing Director of Foundervine, Izzy Obeng said the programme will offer support for school children who are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

"The biggest impact we want from the programme is for more young people across Ghana to be inspired to take the careers of tomorrow. We know that with where the world is going, digital skills are so important. And there are kids in schools across Ghana who are coding, who are learning STEM, who are using science and we want to provide them with the skills, the support and the access to industry professionals in Ghana, so that they can become the leaders we need for Ghana tomorrow."

Also speaking to Joy Business was Vice President of DreamOval Foundation, Francios Afful, who mentioned that the first year of the programme will be for assessment to ensure its success when it finally begins.

“The year one which is 2021 is focused on research and scoping, and the idea behind that is to understand the concept about STEM in this country. This is because the children that are going to benefit from this programme need to understand STEM and appreciate it. The second and third years are where we're going to launch the programme proper and by 2024 the programme will come to an end, and we will know who the ultimate winners are. We will then look at the model of partnership with some organisations to continue building their talents.”

On how sustainable this initiative will be, he mentioned that various internship opportunities will be made available for the children to further groom them in the skills they’ve chosen.

“We are not only depending on ourselves, we are working with other institutions so that the idea is to ensure that the products and services or the skills that these children acquire can be harnessed by these organisations. We are going to partner with Stanbic, Fidelity Bank, MTN Foundation, etc. where these children can intern and continue furthering their skills in these organisations.”

Speaking to Joy Business, some of the students expressed gratitude to the organisers, adding they believe science can be learnt by anyone who loves to think critically.

“Most people do not enjoy learning science, they think it’s difficult but to me science is not difficult. In my area, when it rains the whole place gets flooded, so I want to invent a machine called the flood detector because most people buy lands in the harmattan season. They don’t know if it's a waterlogged area or not”, Ama Sam said.

Another student, Komla Segbefia said he would use the platform to encourage his friends to embrace the study of STEM, adding, that it’s the future of development in the world.