Kabakoo Academies, Catalyzing Tech Education for Resilient Africa
In May 2020, Kabakoo launched the “Beat COVID-19” Challenge in partnership with the European Union in Mali via the EJOM project
BAMAKO, Mali, September 22, 2020/ -- Since May 2020, Kabakoo Academies (https://www.Kabakoo.africa/) has taken up the challenge of transforming the challenges arising from
the global COVID-19 pandemic into a socioeconomic opportunity for
African youth.
From May to December 2020, its Bamako campus welcomes for seven months a class of twenty learners dedicated to local entrepreneurship as a
viable solution to the economic and health-related consequences of
COVID-19 in the Sahel. Halfway through the “Beat COVID-19” Challenge,
and despite the uncertain context in Mali, the Kabako model demonstrates once again its effectiveness and impact.
In May 2020, Kabakoo launched the “Beat COVID-19” Challenge in
partnership with the European Union in Mali via the EJOM project
(l’Emploi des Jeunes créé des Opportunités ici au Mali). This intensive
training program supports six projects offering innovative answers to
COVID-19 and providing long-term job prospects and real impact for local communities. These goals reflect Kabakoo’s unique pedagogy which
enables its learners to gain technological skills by working on specific projects solving local problems.
Halfway through the Challenge, the learners have designed and prototyped their solutions thanks to the cut ting-edge tech equipment available at Kabakoo and the online workshops with Kabakoo’s network of word class
mentors. For example, our three learners from the Anka-Vent project
3D-printed all the parts needed to design their low-cost artificial
respirator, which aims to solve the shortage of this essential medical
device in the Sahel.
Local knowledge, a pillar of Kabakoo’s methodology, helps learners to
better assess the local anchorage of their projects. In this respect,
another group of learners calling themselves “Kouraya”, is setting up a
local production for 3D-printing filaments by recycling plastic waste,
while collaborating with traditional metal workshops in Bamako. For its
part, the Kari-Protection team chose shea nuts, a raw material widely
available in Mali, as the main ingredient of the soaps and hand
sanitizers they are producing in their self-built small-scale
manufacture.
Trained by a network of international coaches from professional and
academic backgrounds, Kabakoo learners progress in areas such as digital manufacturing, design thinking or rapid prototyping. Now time has come
for each team to launch the startup that will market the product they
designed, and thus ensure sustainable eco nomic activity, local jobs and decent incomes.
As part of the Challenge “BEAT-COVID-19”, Kabakoo and its partners are
organizing a Hackathon from October 23 to 25, 2020 to “Accelerate the
post-COVID-19 resilience of African societies” and rethink lifestyles
and citizenship in this new normality. This semi-virtual event will
feature the active participation of renowned experts focusing on
Kabakoo’s four priorities: health, environment, agri-food, art and
culture.
These recent developments demonstrate the relevance and resilience of
Kabakoo’s education offering for the Africas. Despite the uncertain
health and political situation in the Sahel, Kabakoo remains fully
committed to making the 4th Industrial Revolution and decentralized
manufacturing work for its learners. In October 2020, Kabakoo will
launch West-Africa’s first training blending drone technology and
artificial intelligence, with mentors from organisations such as Harvard University, Oracle, PHI Centre, Sorbonne University, Black in AI,
ESTACA Engineering School, etc. Following Kabakoo’s locally grounded
approach, learners will acquire valuable skills relevant in many
professional sectors such as agriculture, journalism and media,
humanitarian action, etc.
Kabakoo’s high-low-tech model keeps responding to the aspirations of the African youth who are imagining and building sustainable futures, for
the Africas and beyond.
keita@kabakoo.africa
https://www.facebook.com/Kabakoo/
About Kabakoo:
Kabakoo Academies (https://www.Kabakoo.africa/) is a mission-driven enterprise building a pan-African network of
creative academies for sustainability-focused tech education. We
catalyze the emergence of sustainable and inclusive innovation by
merging high-tech and low-tech (local knowledge). Our mission is to
accelerate the world’s transition toward desirable and sustainable
futures by providing locally relevant and transformative learning
experiences.
Kabakoo Academies, Catalyzing Tech Education for Resilient Africa
Kabakoo Academies, Catalyzing Tech Education for Resilient Africa
Kabakoo Academies, Catalyzing Tech Education for Resilient Africa
Kabakoo Academies, Catalyzing Tech Education for Resilient Africa
Kabakoo Academies, Catalyzing Tech Education for Resilient Africa
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