By Vishani Ragobeer

A ROBOTIC Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) camp for students commenced on Thursday with the hope of stimulating interest in young minds to develop a passion for technology.The one-day camp targeting children aged 10-14 was organised by Karen Abrams, a Guyanese living in Georgia, USA and several others from the diaspora.
At the workshop held at St Rose’s High School, some 30 students were given the opportunity to learn about the key role technology plays in today’s world. These children were the “overflows” who cannot make it into a camp that begins on Monday. They were given an opportunity to learn what they love.
The students were drawn from Region Four with the exception of one student from New Amsterdam, Berbice. They were informed of the importance of being knowledgeable about technology, and focus was given to the pros and cons of the increasingly pivotal role of robots.
According to Abrams, the programme was initiated here as only a few “privileged” children are exposed to this technology.
She said the “kids of colour,” as in the USA, are “unrepresented,” and do not receive opportunities such as these. Another camp begins on Monday and concludes on August 6.
It will be hosted at Queen’s College, St Rose’s High School and centres at Buxton and Lusignan.
Abrams is hoping to increase awareness in technology and for every child to be exposed to training in this field.
Her team has trained 15 other persons, most of whom are ICT teachers in the school system, and they have pledged to create functioning STEM clubs in Guyana.
The camps are funded by members of the diaspora and are free. Abrams has done similar camps in the U.S. and her children had suggested to her to take the camps to her homeland Guyana, and she listened to them.
After she met with First Lady Sandra Granger who was at the time in the U.S., it was arranged for the camps to be hosted here.
On Thursday, the students were allowed to put together LEGO MIndstorm EV3 Robots. Ima Christian and brother Joshua Christian, daughter and son of Karen Abrams and co- creators of the award-winning Five-O Police Interaction Tracking App, guided the children through building the robots and teaching basic programming to control the robots.
Abrams noted that the robotic kits were “pricey”; however, she and the other members of the diaspora managed to raise some U.S.$8,000 for the kits and for implementation of the overall programme.