300 students complete Pathways to Space program in Africa
Ethiopia
,
11 Jul 2024
The inaugural cohort of the Pathways to Space program, a new educational endeavour jointly organised by the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy (FASESA) and Boeing, graduated yesterday in Ethiopia.
According to the organisers, after five months of immersive learning, 312 pupils, half of whom are girls, from 63 schools in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania have developed a strong interest in the space sector.
Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia, said: “We are looking forward to the innovative contributions the graduates of the Pathways to Space program will make, shaping the future of space exploration in the decades to come.”
The Pathways to Space Program enabled 120 Ethiopian, 112 Nigerian, and 82 Tanzanian schoolchildren to discover the realm of space via hands-on experiences.
They formed teams, developed a mission patch, built a prototype satellite, tested it, and presented their designs.
The program culminated in a satellite prototype testing day, during which students evaluated their prototypes under real-world situations.
According to the organizers, this entire experience honed their engineering talents, fuelled their desire for space exploration, and prepared them for further studies and professions.
“We are incredibly proud of the students' accomplishments. Their dedication and enthusiasm for STEM and space exploration are truly inspiring," said Sean Jacobs, founder and executive director at FASESA. "The graduation ceremony not only celebrates their hard work during the program but also marks the beginning of their journey as future leaders in the space industry or more broadly in science and technology.”
FASESA and Boeing plan to expand the Pathways to Space program to other African countries in the coming years.
Beginning next year, the program will offer both in-person and online participation, expanding options for students across the African continent