Setting up Computer Lab in Public Schools.

Providing Computer labs to public schools to enable students to gain 21st-century skills and train teachers on ICT so that schools can integrate ICT into their regular teaching practice. 

Innovation and technology are paving our way to the future. The National Science Foundation estimates that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of STEM literacy.  With 54 countries in Africa, almost all existing at various parts of the tech-enabled spectrum, STEM literacy is defined differently in each nation. For some countries, training the next generation of software engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity professionals means building sustainable tech hubs to equip their talent.

Meanwhile, the STEM fields have been seen as essential factors in the growth and development of all developed nations in the world. STEM education hasn't been given the appropriate recognition across Liberia, particularly among women and girls. While it is true that education is a fundamental human right, Liberia is still struggling to stabilize an academic environment where students will have easy access to STEM education, particularly having access to both Science and Computer laboratories.

The illiteracy rate in Liberia is estimated to be close to 35 percent or even more, one of the highest among Africa’s youthful population. Even though there hasn't been any research to authenticate the STEM education illiteracy rate in Liberia, it's inarguable that almost 80% of Liberians are STEM illiterate.

It has been found that almost 95% of public schools in our country lack both Science and Computer laboratories. The available reasonable evidence authenticates us to launch the “Code for Liberia” initiative which is a project which aims at providing Internet Computer Technology infrastructures to all public primary and secondary schools starting with the Matilda Newport Junior High School that have over 800 plus students.

Our education needs to transition from the mere delusional technique of teaching to a practical method utilizing the scientific method to stimulate innovations and critical thinking among students. This would buttress the national government's efforts to transform the age-old dragging educational sector. The focus of the project will be to assist the Ministry of Education, schools institutions, and parents, to augment the learning population’s interest in more, and the out-of-school population’s perceived pertinence of education.

In order to bridge the gap in STEM Education across our country, our methodology has been partnering with community organizations, to directly increase the accessibility of our workshops, events, camps, and resources. Throught our “After School STEM Enrichment Program” which has been recognized by “Falling Walls Engage” as one of the top 50 projects in the Science Engagement Category (https://falling-walls.com/science-summit/finalists-2022/) is built to guide and allow students and youth to explore the many wonders of science and technology.

Currently, our “Code for Liberia initiative” we are setting-up free  Computer Technology infrastructures in public secondary schools starting with Matilda Newport Junior High School teaching students and teachers computer skills prior to that taking a project-based approach in having students utilize their skills in solving complex problems in Liberia. The focus of this initiative is led by entrepreneurship/coding in helping bring Liberia to the global forefront in talent development and economic growth and also to create the environment for primary and secondary students to get along with hands-on STEM activities and to support and enhance STEM literacy in our country.

This is to ensure effective computer education in primary and secondary schools across our country in order to make the teaching and learning environment conducive for both instructors and students to enhance computer skills.

Our Big Hairy audacious goal is a one-student-to-one computer and hopefully, to continue working alone with the Ministry of Education - MOE to introduce coding/programming as a curriculum in various high schools. The project aims to develop youth and students’ ability to formulate problems logically; to design, write and test code through the development of programs, apps, games, and animation websites; and, through their chosen learning activities, to learn about computer science throughout our lessons and pieces of training.

Our project is serving Pre-primary Learners, Primary Learners, Secondary Learners, Teachers/Staff, STEM Passionate, and Non-STEM Passionate.  Youth, students, and teachers having access to ICT and digital literacy knowledge and skills have been a serious problem. Our project is providing Computer labs to public schools that will enable students to gain 21st-century skills and train teachers on ICT so that schools can integrate ICT into their regular teaching practice. 

Our team consists of young and experienced individuals from different career backgrounds. Over the past years, Over the course of fifty (50) plus workshops, training, outreaches, awareness, and programs. We have impacted over 6500 youth and students directly and indirectly. Meanwhile, our “After School STEM Enrichment Program” has been recognized by “Falling Walls Engage” as one of the top 50 projects in the Science Engagement Category (https://falling-walls.com/science-summit/finalists-2022/) is built to guide and allow students and youth to explore the many wonders of science and technology. Currently, Our “Code for Liberia Initiative” is a project aimed at the following:

• Providing Internet Computer Technology infrastructures to all public primary and secondary schools.
• Introduce a new ICT curriculum that will enable students to gain 21st-century skills such as coding, programming, web, and Mobile development, Robotics, Electronics, etc. 
• Training the existing teachers on ICT so that schools would be able to integrate ICT into their regular teaching practice to enhance the teaching-learning process and conduct online classes (using platforms such as Moodle, zoom, Microsoft teams, Google hangout, or other similar platforms) in case of teaching-learning needs to continue virtually.

Notwithstanding, we have kickoff the project at the Matilda Newport School which is affecting over
800 underrepresented students by providing them with 21st-century skills and training. This is to ensure effective computer education in primary and secondary schools across our country in order to make the teaching and learning environment conducive for both instructors and students to enhance computer skills.

Our Big Hairy audacious goal is a one-student-to-one computer and hopefully, to continue working alone with the Ministry of Education - MOE to introduce coding/programming as a curriculum in various high schools. The project aims to develop youth and students’ ability to formulate problems logically; to design, write and test code through the development of programs, apps, games, and animation websites; and, through their chosen learning activities, to learn about computer science throughout our lessons and pieces of training. Our commitment is to expand underprivileged students’ knowledge of STEM Education in our country.

The illiteracy rate in Liberia is estimated to be close to 35 percent or even more, one of the highest among Africa’s youthful population. Even though there hasn't been any research to authenticate the STEM education illiteracy rate in Liberia with an emphasis on Technology, it's inarguable that almost 80% of Liberians are STEM illiterate. It has been found that almost 95% of public schools in our country lack both Science and Computer laboratories. 

The available reasonable evidence authenticates us to launch the “Code for Liberia” initiative a project which aims at providing Internet Computer Technology infrastructures to all public primary and secondary schools starting with the Matilda Newport Junior High School which has over 800 students in Monrovia.

Few reasons that make our solution innovative are: 

1. Our methodology: increasing inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity altogether. Firstly, are partnering with community organizations, to directly increase the accessibility of our workshops, events, camps, and resources. This includes working with schools, library centers, and communities across our country.  Secondly, is through our interdisciplinary STEMX curriculum. We seek to amplify the narrative that STEM is a force for social good.  

2. Train the Trainer” Services – Scaling through People. We conduct training for Students (STEM Club - Chapter Ambassadors) and potential individuals/instructors or subject matter experts at enabling them to train other people in their various schools and communities/organizations. This will increase our impact directly and indirectly.  (To continue establishing additional STEM clubs in high schools and communities in and across our country)  
3. Partnership - Partnering with the National Government, schools, communities, and organizations, to directly increase the accessibility of our workshops, events, camps, and resources. This includes working with schools, library centers, and communities across our country. 
4.  Innovative Resource Technology Hub - where students will have access to basics STEM-related materials to improve their innovation and creativity skills and to conduct training, seminars, and workshops on Science and Tech-related courses 
5. Technology-Enabled Services: Scaling Through Technology - We use platform such oom, Google meetings, etc.  to conduct virtual online training 

Our impact goals for the next year are to impact over 4500 youth and students and train over 300 teachers. We will achieve this through the following:

1. Through our “After School STEM Enrichment Program” by partnering with schools, communities, and libraries.
2. Our “Code for Liberia initiative” which we have kickoff at the Matilda Newport School (Innovative Resource Center – Computer Laboratory and ICT Equipment) is affecting over 1000 underrepresented youth and students by providing them with 21st-century skills and training.
3. Other STEM-related programs, events, etc. 

The core technology that powers our solution: 

1. Providing Internet Computer Technology infrastructures to all public primary and secondary schools.

2. Introduce a new ICT curriculum that will enable students to gain 21st-century skills such as coding, programming, web, and Mobile development, Robotics, Electronics, etc. 

3. Training the existing teachers on ICT so that schools would be able to integrate ICT into their regular teaching practice to enhance the teaching-learning process and conduct online classes (using platforms such as Moodle, zoom, Microsoft teams, Google hangout, or other similar platforms) in case of teaching-learning needs to continue virtually. 

Our project is currently serving over 1500 youth, students, and teachers. Our “Code for Liberia initiative” which we have kickoff at the Matilda Newport School (Innovative Resource Center – Computer Laboratory and ICT Equipment) is affecting over 1000 underrepresented youth and students by providing them with 21st-century skills and training. Our impact goals for the next year are to impact over 4500 youth and students and train over 300 teachers.

Most of our top concerns or challenges for 

A few barriers currently exist to accomplishing our goals in the next year including:

1. Insufficient Finance - to go across so part of the rural areas in our county. 

2. Insufficient training  Materials such as  (computer equipment, Robotics, and STEM Kits)  to open additional computers in rural parts of our country. 

3. No finance and legislative support from the National Government and stakeholders.

To achieve our goals, here are our amazing partners that are assisting us to make this huge impact: 

1. TME Education is providing us with resources and materials such as (Computers, Arduino Kits, etc). 

2. Ministry of Education through the Monrovia Consolidated School System to provide training to public schools. 

3. Ignite World: through them, we are sparking women's and girls' interest in the STEM fields. 

Social Business Model Canvas

1. Key partners: TME Education, Ministry of Education through Monrovia Consolidated School System, Ignite World, Space Hero, etc. 

2. Customers: Youth, Students, and Teachers. 

3. Revenue: Students' textbooks, participants' fees, grants, and funding. 

4. key activities: Training, workshops, summits, etc.   

REVENUE

From Students: the students who used our Computer lab pay three (3) dollars per month for using the computers for training and other research activities. However, this money is not collected directly; it can be added to the cost of the computer textbooks that the students buy every period. Our target is to sell textbooks to 75% of the students in the school if the average population of the school is 800 students. This will generate an average of $1600.00 USD. To achieve this target, the students will be given a ticket that will allow them to access the computers during their practicals. 

Fundraising Activities: We organized periodic training activities for youth in the communities where the project is cited. During these training/workshops, the participants are usually made payment for the training. This training focused on job creation, youth empowerment, skills development, Internet Computer Technology skills, etc. In summary, the revenue from each school will exceed Seven Thousand Five hundred dollars per year. We hope we can cover about 30 schools in the next three years. 

FUNDING

PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS: We started up the project with our initial contributions which will include painting, and wiring the place.

FUNDRAISING: We shall raise funds from individual personal donations, companies’ donations, project lunching, school PTA and etc

GRANTS: We shall solicit funds from international organizations that support NGOs.