Future Africa’s Robotics and Coding Initiative Empowers Youth at Bokamoso High School

As part of an ongoing effort to foster young innovators, Future Africa’s Dr Tedson Nkoana facilitated a Robotics and Coding course throughout August 2024 at Bokamoso High School in Hammanskraal, Pretoria. Targeting Grade 8 learners, the programme forms part of Future Africa’s broader Youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiative under the FACE (Future Africa Community Engagement) One Health programme.

The Robotics and Coding course introduced learners to essential digital skills, including block coding and robot programming using Arduino C++ scripted software and the NEO3 KIT Arduino robot. This hands-on approach is designed to develop critical thinking, communication, good teamwork, and leadership among young learners - skills essential for their future participation in STEM fields. The initiative also indirectly supports the Department of Basic Education’s national rollout, which has been piloted in over 1,200 schools in Gauteng and across South Africa.

Dr Nkoana, Project Coordinator for the Future Africa Research Chair: People, Health and Places (One Health), highlighted the alignment of this initiative with Future Africa's mission. “We are preparing learners to thrive in a world where technology is increasingly integrated with everyday life. The coding and robotics course is not just about acquiring technical skills, it’s about equipping young people with the tools they need to solve complex challenges in their communities and beyond,” he said during a conversation with the school’s principal.

This initiative is directly linked to the One Health approach, which emphasises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. The Future Africa Research Chair: People, Health and Places, through its FACE One Health programme, recognises that building resilient communities and achieving social equity requires empowering the next generation. By engaging youth in STEM, Future Africa aims to prepare these learners to become future leaders capable of addressing critical health and environmental challenges across Africa.

In addition to Bokamoso High School, Dr Nkoana and his team are working with rural schools in Limpopo and the National Zoological Gardens’ Zoo Club, an eco-club that includes youth from diverse socio-economic backgrounds in Pretoria. The goal is to create an inclusive space where both rural and urban learners can participate in STEM and ultimately become leaders in the One Health research landscape.

“The response has been great thus far," Dr Nkoana commented, “The learners are enjoying the experience and applying themselves during activities.”

This initiative aligns with Future Africa's mission to develop and unleash the transformative potential of African sciences. By equipping the youth with skills in STEM, Future Africa is actively contributing to building a generation of young leaders ready to bring about meaningful and impactful change across the continent.

Pictures taken during the Robotics and Coding course at Bokamoso High School