Rwandan teen wins STEM competition

Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), in partnership with a renowned computer, company, Intel, organised a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition that attracted schools from Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya. The competition aimed at bringing theoretical science skills into a practical world through research. It also gave solutions to some of the tasks at hand. Teens Times’ Pelagie N. Mbabazi caught up with FAWE’s Miriam Nsekonziza, the winner of the competition, who spoke about her journey. Q: Briefly introduce yourself?A: My name is Miriam Nsekonziza. I am 16 years old and a student at FAWE taking Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB). I am in Senior Four.Q:What were the requirements needed for entry into the competition?A: Well, for starters, they needed a certain education level. The candidate also had to be a science student. Each school was required to bring two girls. Q: What was the topic you presented and how special was it?A: My partner Precious Nyabami, and I, with the help of our science teachers had a topic entitled Design of a roof top rain water harvesting system. Some other schools had the same project, others had better ones, but what made ours special was putting together all the research we had done by visiting different places.We carried out our project in places like Kadobogo Village in Kinyinya sector because our major concern was to show people in areas with a shortage of water supply how they can preserve the little they have during this rainy season to save for the dry season. According to the number of people in one household and their water consumption; we gave them ways in which they can use their limited resources. Q: What were your most exciting and boring moments in the competition?A: When I was told that I would travel to Uganda by air, as it was my first time to board a plane, I was thrilled! I was taken around Kampala City though I was disappointed by ithe filth I saw. I didn’t really like the time I waited for the results after presenting the case study as everyone seemed anxious and nervous. Q: What did you walk away with after winning the competition?A: My partner and I walked away with $150 each as winners. But there was also the $90, acertificate and scientific calculator I received as a participant.