A DAY OF SCIENCE
Across the world, countries are pushing their youth to take a greater interest in the sciences, because of the impact this field can have on the social, economic and even political advancement of a nation. Therefore it should come as no surprise that here at Agahozo Shalom Youth Village we are working to provide our students with a strong and forward-thinking Biology, Chemistry, Optics, Electronics, Physics and Computer Science curriculums. We want to provide our students with the option, should they posses an interest, to pursue a career in science.
On Friday, June 29th our students received an opportunity to demonstrate to the Village what they have learned over the past two terms in their respective science classes during a Science Fair held in courtyard of the High School, and then in a Car Race Competition held on the balcony of the dining hall after lunch.
Around noon Directors, Mamas, Counselors, Cousins and several special guests and visitors descended upon Liquidnet Family High School and excitedly mingled around experiments and models set up in the courtyard and in various classrooms. They watched as Enrichment year students demonstrated how a potato and a lemon can be used as a battery and how you can use the soil to garner energy.
Our Senior 4 students showed intrigued audiences how to use the Sun as a heat conductor to burn waste paper. They also demonstrated how to use the Parabolic water heater/cooker, traffic lights, metal detector and electronic mosquito repellant they built. Senior 5 students presented a cell model, Radio transmitter and an Elevation Altitude meter, as well as collaborated with Senior 6 students to demonstrate the use of a library management system and clothing materials they designed. Our Senior 6 students proudly demonstrated how to disassemble and assemble a computer system and how a power transmission and house wiring works.
After lunch many gathered on the balcony of the dining hall and watched as our students assembled the cars they had carefully constructed out of recycled materials at the starting line. Speed and distance covered were the determinants for the winner. One at a time our students blew up the strategically placed balloons that were used to propel their cars, released them and watched them either coast ahead or careen into the amused audience. The car race elicited countless laughs from the crowd and contestants, and provided entertaining moments for us all.
By the end of the day our students had proudly demonstrated their ability to take scientific theory, and design, create and present tangible and interesting experiments and projects. As we watched our students present these projects we can’t help but be proud and hopeful that one day a handful of these students will be a part of the next generation of Rwanda’s scientists.