Girls’ projects highlight potential for Malawi2063
The Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) has highlighted potential for Malawi to address its challenges using locally available resources.
Must Vi ce-Chancel l o r Professor Address Malata made the remarks recently when she inspected various science projects showcased by girls attending the 2024 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (Steam) camp.
T h e t w o – w e e k c a m p provided a platform for 105 young female students from community day secondary schools across the country to demonstrate their innovative capabilities.
Malata expressed her appreciation for the projects, noting that the girls have shown they can contribute significantly to Malawi’s 2063 agenda through their creativity and resourcefulness.
“The girls have displayed remarkable innovations that can help us achieve our national goals. This camp is a testament to the fact that we can harness local resources to find solutions to the challenges we face.
“There is a bright future f o r t h e c o u n t r y as we have intelligent girls who are able to articulate what they can do. Within two weeks, they have come up with various innovations ranging from agriculture, electricity generation, water treatment and environmental conservation,” she said.
Malata added that the project plans another camp for boys in a bid to push both genders to pursue science careers.
“The focus on the boy child is a reaction to the perception that the initiative, which started some eight years ago, is leaving behind the other gender,” she explained.
National Commission for Science and Technology chief documentation and information services officer Hambani Gausi emphasized the value of the camp as a worthwhile investment the sponsors have made for the girls in supporting their talent in science and technology. “We will scale up some of the technologies they have showcased. We will assess their level of development and refer them to the garage Must is hosting as well as to other experts who can advance these technologies to higher levels,” he stated.
