Chemistry Education Project for Developing Nations
Tax deductible
OUR STORY
A Unique Opportunity for Undergraduate Chemistry Researchers to have International Impact in Science Education
Conducting research through service learning is a high impact practice that can positively influence student engagement and success in addition to helping communities in great need. A team of scientists sponsored by the nonprofit organization, Chemists Without Borders, has been working to develop inexpensive micro-chemistry kits to facilitate science education in West Africa where resources are currently very limited.
Since 2015, several undergraduate STEM majors have engaged in research to enhance chemistry education for this project. The ultimate goal is to provide laboratory kits to high school and first-year university students in Sierra Leone by training teachers to use the kits in their classrooms. In addition to standard labs that will help students understand basic chemical concepts, most of the STEM experiments developed for this project will focus on the application of chemistry towards practical knowledge relevant to the lives of ordinary people in developing nations.
Currently, we have assembled 16 lab activity kits ready for use. To implement this project, we developed a study abroad course at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and are offering this class in spring 2020. Enrolled students will have the opportunity to travel to Sierra Leone and lead a workshop to train teachers who will in turn use the kits in their classrooms. In addition, they will learn about the politics, history, and culture of Sierra Leone.
Upon implementation, we anticipate the kits to service between 200-500 teachers and students, covering approximately 50 schools in Sierra Leone annually. The initial country of implementation is Sierra Leone, but our hope is that once this project is executed successfully, it will be expanded to other English and/or Spanish speaking countries. We anticipate this service learning research will attract students from underrepresented groups and influence their engagement in STEM activities at WSSU and the broader community.
Please join our team in making a difference. We are raising funds for this project and any donation will help to make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us. Please share this with family, friends and colleagues.
A Unique Opportunity for Undergraduate Chemistry Researchers to have International Impact in Science Education
Conducting research through service learning is a high impact practice that can positively influence student engagement and success in addition to helping communities in great need. A team of scientists sponsored by the nonprofit organization, Chemists Without Borders, has been working to develop inexpensive micro-chemistry kits to facilitate science education in West Africa where resources are currently very limited.
Since 2015, several undergraduate STEM majors have engaged in research to enhance chemistry education for this project. The ultimate goal is to provide laboratory kits to high school and first-year university students in Sierra Leone by training teachers to use the kits in their classrooms. In addition to standard labs that will help students understand basic chemical concepts, most of the STEM experiments developed for this project will focus on the application of chemistry towards practical knowledge relevant to the lives of ordinary people in developing nations.
Currently, we have assembled 16 lab activity kits ready for use. To implement this project, we developed a study abroad course at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and are offering this class in spring 2020. Enrolled students will have the opportunity to travel to Sierra Leone and lead a workshop to train teachers who will in turn use the kits in their classrooms. In addition, they will learn about the politics, history, and culture of Sierra Leone.
Upon implementation, we anticipate the kits to service between 200-500 teachers and students, covering approximately 50 schools in Sierra Leone annually. The initial country of implementation is Sierra Leone, but our hope is that once this project is executed successfully, it will be expanded to other English and/or Spanish speaking countries. We anticipate this service learning research will attract students from underrepresented groups and influence their engagement in STEM activities at WSSU and the broader community.
Please join our team in making a difference. We are raising funds for this project and any donation will help to make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us. Please share this with family, friends and colleagues.
Fundraising team (5)
A Bakarr Kanu
Organizer
Winston-Salem, NC
Chemists Without Borders Inc
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
Anna Hayes
Team member
Luly Beckles
Team member
Annie Leal
Team member
María De Fatima Fernandez
Team member
