Spider-Man's inspirational Science & Tech School
HELLO!! I'm Phil, a British filmmaker and journalist and I recently came across an extraordinary place and story that I would kindly ask your help to support! It's about SUPERHEROES and ROBOTS and SCIENCE and CIVIL RIGHTS, and I made a film about it for the GUARDIAN newspaper. It's a great story, and it won lots of awards. However, the hero of the story needs our help, so please read on!
When I was working as a journalist covering the citizen protests against the 2021 military coup in Khartoum Sudan, I encountered an incredible character dressed as Spider-Man. He leaps from buildings, fearlessly protests the coup and thrills the crowds. I discovered that this mysterious lycra-clad Sudanese citizen is actually a young science teacher who, when not in his red suit, runs the most amazing voluntary science initiative in the slums outside Khartoum.
The 'Science and Superheroes club', set in a small makeshift warehouse in one of Sudan's biggest slums, is where disadvantaged boys and girls freely have an open door to come and build stuff like solar panels, electrical dynamos and the most incredible robots! In this safe space, young girls and boys between 7 and 16, many of whom cannot read or write, are invited to start inventing and delving into tech and science. They learn robot building, electrical and design knowledge, and then they are encouraged to let their creative imaginations fly and just go invent and build cool stuff. A twelve-year-old girl putting together a dynamo and making her own solar power unit? A ten-year-old boy building an automated robot bigger than himself? This is where it happens. The club is amazing - girls and boys line up to attend and, once in, often try and stay through the night - so excited are they to get the opportunity to invent and collaborate. The icing on top is that Spidey invites the kids to name their robots after African kings and queens and then learn about them - like the great Nubian queen Amanirenas and others of the Kush empire. The kids even went to visit the ultimate African tech of the Sudanese pyramids (older than the Egyptians!) and saw with pride what their ancestors created. Original African pyramid tech & design which still boggles engineering minds today.
Teacher Spidey grew up selling water as a boy and reading discarded maths and physics books to fuel his love of science. Now, aged 27, he set up this wonderful club out of his own pocket and pulls favours for resources from around the sprawling slum. I want to support this amazing space that inspires girls and boys, letting their curiosity soar - alongside gaining pride in their own history and knowledge of African role models. Every pound, euro or dollar will facilitate the rent for a new safe learning space, quality resources in robust tablets, an electrical supply, a proper meal once a day for the kids and a fair monthly salary for two teachers. Let's make this unique and inspirational educational project sustainable. If you have read this far, please consider helping support Spidey through this registered educational charity that can deliver the vital needs to some superhero kids and this special place! Thank you. Phil
