Holiday Tech Camp: Young tech enthusiasts display skills, knowledge gained.

They were trained on issues including coding, robotics, web development, drone technology, 3D modelling, printing, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

For seven weeks, the trainers used hands-on workshops, interactive sessions and collaborative projects.

The children were trained with the goal of promoting creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork within them.

The children were divided into four levels based on their level of education and their specific areas of interest. 

The programme this year recorded the highest intake of children for the programme surging from 42 in 2023 to 69 including 58 boys and 11 girls.

At the closing ceremony of the tech camp at the Buea Mountain Hotel on Saturday, August 17, 2024, the children presented fully conceived and developed projects to solve problems in their society in various domains. 

Some of the focus areas are facial recognition, solar city, blind aid, line following robots, health projects, cybersecurity awareness websites, password generators and spam link checkers, plant welfare monitoring systems, animal tracking devices for wildlife, weather forecasting, animal feeder, multipurpose website, calculator app, key chain.

Addressing the children during the closing ceremony, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, saluted the young tech enthusiasts for their commitment and display of knowledge. 

“…you have demonstrated remarkable creativity, determination, and innovation. You have learned to collaborate, to solve problems, and to think critically, all of which are essential skills for navigating the challenges of the modern world. The future is yours to shape, and I have no doubt, that many of you will go on to be leaders in technology, innovators in business, and catalysts for change in your communities,” the minister said.

She encouraged the trainees to continue learning, exploring, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. 

The skills gained, she said are not just for the classroom or the laboratory; but life tools that will allow them to dream bigger, aim higher, and achieve greater things for themselves. 

She reiterated that government through the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications is committed to continue supporting initiatives that foster innovation and build the digital capacity of the country’s youth to ensure the growth and development of the nation’s digital ecosystem, as envisioned by the Head of State. 

Enter UNDP official 

The Head of Experimentation at the United Nations Development Programme Cameroon Country Office, Tchoffo Serges-Roberteau, said such an initiative aligns with their belief in the power of youth to drive sustainable development and create a better future for all.

The skills gained will not only help the academic pursuits of the children but also enable them to navigate the rapidly changing and evolving job market. 

The trainers he added are the next generation of problem-solvers, innovators, and change-makers who can explore their interests and collaborate to solve real-world problems.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nervtek and the brain behind the Holiday Tech Camp, Nzometia Nervis, expressed his joy with the increased number of children interested in tech-related disciplines. 

Such a platform, he said will spark a belief system in the children that they can do everything they dream.

Such a surge from nine children at conception, to 17, 28, 42 and 69 respectively the following years was a testament to the fact that the Holiday Tech Camp had a positive impact on the lives of children, drawing more to embrace technology.

Representing the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, the Regional Delegate for the South West Region, Mouliom Nchouwat Raymond, urged the children to be ambassadors of cybersecurity wherever they find themselves.

He also challenged them to be ambassadors of the responsible use of technology and social media.

Participants react

Speaking to the press, one of the children, Tekung Miguel said his group set out to solve the problem of slow and clumsy restaurant staff, with a robot that can serve food in restaurants without spilling or mixing orders. 

“It will help the restaurant to get more customers and make more money and ensure the customers are entertained while eating” he explained.

For his part, Fiemena Courage from another group, said he and teammates have been working on a weather station, which can help the public, know the temperature and humidity levels around them. 

This will help meteorologists predict natural disasters like landslides, floods and others, enable builders know the right time to build different kind of houses.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3203 of Monday August 19, 2024