By Fatou Krubally
The Africell Impact Foundation (AIF) on Saturday launched its Robotics Club in Fajara following the completion of a six-month robotics training programme that equipped nine young Gambians with practical skills in robotics and emerging technologies.
The program concluded with the presentation of certificates to the nine participants during a ceremony attended by students, parents, guardians and officials of the foundation.
Speaking on behalf of AIF Chief Executive Officer, Hussein Diab-Ghanem, the foundation’s Country Manager for The Gambia, Dinamene Chongolola, said the programme was designed to provide young people with access to skills needed to prepare them for the future, regardless of their financial circumstances.
She said the training was offered free of charge to ensure that young people from families unable to afford similar programmes could also benefit.
Chongolola said the foundation sought to create an inclusive learning environment where participants could develop their skills and have equal access to opportunities in technology.
She commended the nine participants for their commitment, noting that they attended training sessions three times a week over several months.
She also thanked parents and guardians for supporting the students and ensuring their regular participation in the programme.
Chongolola described the graduates as among the most respectful and appreciative groups to have participated in programmes organised by the foundation, while encouraging them to further develop their communication and public-speaking skills.
The ceremony also marked the establishment of the AIF Robotics Club, with the nine graduates becoming its founding members.
Chongolola said the foundation wanted the participants to remain engaged after completing the training and use the club as a platform to continue developing their interests and skills in robotics and technology.
One of the beneficiaries said the programme had changed her outlook and exposed her to opportunities she had not previously considered.
She said she had always been interested in robotics and aspired to become a robotics engineer but had not previously had the opportunity to pursue the interest practically.
She said the training introduced her to drones, which later sparked an interest in becoming a drone engineer.
The experience, she added, had opened opportunities that she had previously considered beyond her reach.
The programme ended with the presentation of certificates to the nine participants, with the foundation encouraging them to move beyond being consumers of technology and become
creators and innovators.