The National Youth Council, TechSpace and Science Foundation Ireland are working on a project to bring STEM skills to young people all over Ireland.
The Maker Project will inspire thousands of young people across Ireland to make, create and invent with confidence and curiosity, and increase engagement in STEM.
Youth groups nationwide will be trained to work through technology-enhanced activities spanning electronics, robotics and coding to music, arts and crafts.
The Project is a partnership between the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) which represents youth organisations working with over 380,000 young people, and creative technology network Techspace managed by social enterprise Camara Education Ireland.
Mary Cunningham, director, NCYI, said: “The youth sector is embarking on a groundbreaking journey to inspire young people and those working with them to embrace STEM… Ultimately, all young people in Ireland should have access to STEM and maker activities in an after-school setting, giving them skills and confidence that will be vital to their future lives.”
In 2017 and 2018, the project will see 320 youth workers from 70 organisations complete a training course on how to run maker activities. They, in turn, will work with thousands of young people through technology-enhanced activities in workshops and projects building their skills in areas including electronics, robotics and coding as well as music, arts and crafts.
“This project impacts a sector of the education system – the youth work sector – that is often underestimated for its reach and size. With nearly 400,000 young people, 40,000 volunteers, and 1,400 professional youth workers engaged, the youth work sector can play a significant role in realising the mission of SFI’s Discover Programme,” said said Dr Ruth Freeman, director of strategy & communications at Science Foundation Ireland.
“We want to catalyse, inspire and guide the best in STEM education, outreach and public engagement, which is why we are delighted to announce this capacity-building partnership with the NYCI and Camara Education Ireland.”
TechCentral Reporters
Subscribers 0
Fans 0
Followers 0
Followers