SciCo

Introduction

In July 2024, we had the pleasure to offer a grant to SciCo for this year’s STEM in Tanzania program.

SciCo is an educational nonprofit organization working on the public understanding of science through creative, innovative and interactive approaches. It was founded in 2008 and consists of scientists, educators, artists and people with a general interest in science.

Through numerous high-impact outreach activities, including science festivals, capacity building trainings and workshops, SciCo has reached more than 400,000 people all over Greece. Its activities extend beyond the Greek borders, participating in a multitude of European programs and networks, while at the same time expanding some of its own projects internationally.

SciCo primarily focuses on STEM education (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) and has a particular interest in transferring this knowledge to underserved communities. Its main objective in every project is to upskill the various stakeholder groups via science and technology, considering their cultural heritage, the notion of circular economy and sustainability.

Utilization of donation

The vision of the STEM in Tanzania program is to empower and inspire students in Tanzania through STEM education. The program aims to equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. Through STEM, learning becomes interactive, the world of science exciting and skills such as problem-solving, creativity and design thinking are developed, while teamwork and collaboration are enhanced. Additionally, the program is designed to help and empower local educators to deliver long-term, high-quality STEM/STEAM education in their country.

To date, the SciCo team has trained more than 50 local teachers in the villages of Gongo, Mkange, Matipwili, Manda, Java, and Miono. With the help of curriculum created by SciCo in collaboration with the local organization SANA -Saving Africa's Nature and the STEM kits donated to each school, these teachers continue to provide STEM education to more than 10,000 students in their schools.

Some of the future goals of the program include providing the workshop to more teachers in the local community, extending the duration, involving more volunteers, developing the curriculum, and exploring solutions to address the problem of lack of electricity in local communities.