Airbus Foundation Launches Youth Development Programme In Kenya

The Airbus Foundation, together with its partners – The Little Engineer and The Travelling Telescope – have launched the Airbus Little Engineer programme in Kenya. The goal of the initiative is to encourage students between the age of 10 and 16 to understand and embrace technology, and ignite passion that could grow into an exciting career in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In the spirit of “think global, act local”, the Airbus Foundation is working with The Travelling Telescope, a local organisation founded by Susan Murabana and Daniel Chu Owen that helps to encourage both children and adults to learn more about astronomy.

Since its launch in 2012, the Airbus Little Engineer programme successfully positioned itself as an effective vehicle for discovery-based learning, working to enlighten and empower youth in the areas of science and technology through robotics and aerospace.

Held in partnership with the M-PESA Foundation Academy, the workshop challenged close to 30 Kenyan students to carry out a simulation of a launch mission to space. Over the course of four hours, students assembled and launched a rocket, set up a base and established communications.

From left: Evans Kumomoru, Eusila Kigur and George Guyo operate their Airbus little Engineer gadget during the launch of the Airbus little Engineer Initiative at the MPESA Foundation Academy.

“The Airbus Little Engineer programme helps to facilitate access to STEM skills which are crucial in solving the complex problems of today. I would like to thank all partners for joining efforts and making this project possible in Kenya.” said Andrea Debbane, Executive Director of the Airbus Foundation.

“We are very excited to be partnering with The Airbus Foundation and The Travelling Telescope. The Airbus Little Engineer initiative fits well into how we approach education at the M-PESA Foundation Academy where we focus on leadership, technology, entrepreneurship training and co-curricular activities alongside academic learning” said Les Baillie, CEO of the M-PESA Foundation.

The Airbus Foundation, chaired by Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus is the company’s vehicle for corporate philanthropy. In particular, the Foundation supports the global humanitarian community and inspires and prepares young people for the challenges of tomorrow.