Pursuing an MSc in Robotics at UniTartu!

July 2022 Update:

Hello all,

I will be closing this campaign soon (see my video update here: https://youtu.be/sXDVX0YIIc8)

If you would still like to support my final study year, then you can do so via PayPal.

Copy and paste this link into a new browser tab: https://www.paypal.me/farnazbaksh

Thank you for your support!

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Hello,

my name is Farnaz Baksh and this fall I will travel to Estonia to start my studies in Robotics! Out of hundreds of applications, I was selected as one of only 20 to study at the prestigious University of Tartu, pursuing a Master's degree in Robotics and Computer Engineering.

I’m very excited about the opportunity to travel and study there. I am hoping to continue my pioneering research, where I was one of the first to investigate the uses of Affective Computing and its applications in combating learning disabilities. There is so much work I want to do still in this field and that’s why I’m here today, asking for your support.

Up to this point, for about the past five years, I've been at the forefront in my country, Guyana, in creating numerous opportunities in STEM fields for everyone around me. I've spent countless hours volunteering and wherever I go, I leave the place better than how I found it. My passion for Robotics emerged at a young age, long before I was elected to lead the national robotics team and represent Guyana at the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge in 2017 and 2018. I have gone on my own since then and, after establishing the country’s very first makerspace, The University of Guyana Robotics Club, I went on to assemble my own team of university student mentors and we then voluntarily organized and hosted a variety of events for the public.

Many of these events have been a great success. Like the STEM-Robotics Special Educational Needs Program, featuring a first of its kind curriculum for children with disabilities in Guyana. We successfully taught the basics of STEM to over 50 local students with special needs, across 5 different schools, for half a school year - online. Another successful event was the RoboPi 2020, a Raspberry Pi workshop teaching programming Single Board Computers, to kids & teens aged 9 to 16. I am especially proud of the Roboduino 2019: the first ever public Arduino workshop for kids, teaching microcontroller programming and even featured a publicly demonstrated set of Capstone projects. I also set up a series of “TechEd Talks”, a local variant of TEDx Talks, focusing on emerging technologies. I was active in many 'Girls in ICT' events in Guyana where I did my part to help ensure a place in the broader technology field for both genders equally.

Throughout all these events, my experience and passion for robotics only grew and my work had since become recognized as instrumental to the development of my birthplace so much so that I was the recipient of the National Youth Award in Science and Technology for my selfless acts of promoting educational and regional development. I also received the Council of the University of Guyana Prize in recognition of all my services to the country’s premier educational institution, among other awards.

The field of Robotics has without a doubt played a major role in my life and I would greatly appreciate any part you would like to play in assisting me with this amazing opportunity I have now. Unfortunately, the costs of attending the University of Tartu are very high and so are the tuition fees. These include travel and insurance fees, accommodation and reading material etc. So now I am here because of a 12,000usd deficit that needs to be satisfied before my studies begin this fall. I understand that the final amount sounds like a lot, but I only ask for your kind support, whatever it may be.

Please, don’t think your kind gestures can be too small. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I will never forget your generosity and promise to pay it forward when it’s my turn! 

With every gratitude, sincerely,

Farnaz Baksh

You can also connect with me via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farnaz-baksh/

or see all my accomplishments here: https://www.goodwall.io/farnaz-baksh/activity/achievement

If you live in Guyana, feel free to reach out to me directly if you would like to donate!

PS: With your permission, I am hoping to virtually take you on this robotics journey with me. Every person who donates will have the chance to sign up and receive a postcard from Estonia as well as a 3D printed Thank You keychain from Tartu!