Nthatuoa Koeshe
BASALITECH says everything is on course for the fourth edition of the Tech Kidz Session which is penned in for Saturday at Grind Nation in Maseru.
The sessions are meant to introduce children to science and technology in a fun way.
Co-founder of the BasaliTech, Setsoto Hlohlomi, said the upcoming Tech Kidz Session will cover topics like basic introduction to electronics, what they are, what they can do and how to handle them safely.
She said it will include creating circuits while participants will be asked to create a battery operated car.
“The event is free and applications are open online for the kids who would like to take part,” Sesotho said.
She said even though they offer these sessions for free, donations are always welcome to help them reach more children.
“We host these events monthly but with financial support, we could host more events.”
The events are hosted monthly to teach expose children to technology related activities such as programming, electronics and robotics.
Setsoto said BasaliTech aims bridge the gender gap and increase female participation in science, technology, engineering and technology (STEM) through science and technology training and mentorship.
She also said this is done to improve science and technology education for both male and female by engaging in innovative and exciting projects and initiatives to get them started at a young age.
This is done through the provision of access to technology resources to help them excel in science and technology education.
“We aim to train 10 000 young girls and children by 2030 so as to increase the number of women participating in STEM fields and to help them become valuable community leaders by exposing them to technology and mentoring. This will enable them to work together with professionals in the future.
She said their focus now is on girls so that women who grew up thinking that science and technology is only for men can learn that they can take part too.
“Their intelligence too can impact society positively and the nation for the better and to break the vicious cycle of females who are intimidated by the currently low participation.”
“Children are the future. By introducing science and technology to them at a young age will spark an interest in both girls and boys which may lead to a balance between the males and females who will participate in STEM in the future, as the stereotype will have been broken while they are still young and curious,” Setsoto said.
