STEAM Education Trainer
WiredUp had a Q & A session with Sally Kimangu
Who is Sally Kimangu? What is your background?
Ms Sally Kimangu is an Educational Technology (EdTech) social entrepreneur focusing on economic development projects. She is a STEAM Education trainer guiding and assisting schools in creating STEAM in Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Alison School of Business in Ireland, a Nanodegree from IBM - United States in the USA and a Certificate in Grant Writing from Philanthropy University in the USA. Ms Sally Kimangu is the Chief Executive Officer of Destination Imagination (DI Africa), a global educational non-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators, leaders and creative problem solvers. DI Africa is an affiliate partner to Destination Imagination Inc, a global non-profit organisation based in the USA, whose main aim is to develop all core content, material guidelines and academic resources that engage learners in active learning across Science, Technology, Arithmetic, Engineering and Art disciplines. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Edustore Africa, a social enterprise specialising in the supply of technology-enhanced education in Africa. She is also the Chief Executive of Discovery Club Africa. Ms Sally Kimangu also serves as a Board Director for Billion Child Foundation and Luxury Xclusives. She also offers consultancy services in the following areas: Education, Training, Negotiation, Change Management, Team Building, Corporate Training, Leadership Development, Public Speaking, Brand Marketing and Digital Marketing. Ms Sally Kimangu believes that a continent driven by a knowledgeable and innovative generation can strive to grow its economy; hence decreasing poverty, insecurities, gender disparity and putting them at the peak of the 4th Industrial Revolution by eliminating the constraints of today for a better tomorrow.
As a STEAM Education Trainer, what do you aim for, and why?
The aim is to inspire the next generation of innovators, leaders and creative problem solvers, to have a youth that is empowered to realise that they are valuable, they can excel in any- and everything they invest their energy in and they have the power to shape a better future now. Because I believe that a nation driven by a knowledgeable and innovative generation can strive to grow its economy; hence decreasing poverty, insecurities, gender disparity and putting them at the peak of the 4th Industrial Revolution by eliminating the constraints of today for a better tomorrow.
Being a STEAM Education trainer who supports governments, NGOs, donors and the private sector to embrace 21st century skills, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome some of these challenges?
First, I’m aware of the difficulty all educators face at this time making sure that the education of all learners continues. Governments have the best interest of their people at heart and the economic realities dictate that priority is given to the basic necessities of life. It is important to note, however, that our economic strategy requires innovation and strong manufacturing industries. STEAM is the basic entry module for a globally competitive Botswana.
These are steps that other countries both in Africa and around the world have successfully implemented at the local level.
Encourage social entrepreneurship.
This leads to after-school programmes and weekend drop-in centrers that evolve to innovation hubs.
This leads to government and private sector financially supporting STEAM Programmes.
This leads to every child in every village accessing STEAM education.
This leads to potential employment in a wide variety of job sectors.
The enrollment and participation in these social entrepreneurship projects will.
What achievement are you most proud of?
As the CEO of Destination Imagination in Africa, with all its subsidiaries, we have successfully trained thousands of learners across Africa. We have engaged in smart partnerships with global development economic donors and our current project is funded by the European Union, GIZ, and Enabel. We provide much-needed soft skills and STEAM Education to both learners and educators.
What is your message to upcoming young Africans who are passionate about STEM?
STEAM allows for creativity and innovation thus giving children comfort when they come into the world of future jobs. Currently, the world is experiencing a rapid technology boom, things are constantly changing and the pace is ‘fast’.
Thousands of jobs will soon be automated and completed by robots through the application of artificial intelligence. Our children need to build these robots to do the job we desire as Africans to enhance our economies. Fields can be ploughed faster and vegetables can be stored more resourcefully to improve their market value. These are everyday high-impact innovative elements that our children are not aware of.
Children learn with enthusiasm; it is thus imperative that we feed the young minds everything that is accessible in order to assist them to cope with a global economy that will operate without borders.
Roles such as; Video game designer, Orthopedic Technologist, Animator, Biomedical Engineer, Forensic Psychologist, and Astrophysicist are all STEAM-driven in core education requirements.