By showing students as young as six how robots can solve real-world problems, Fundi Bots founder Solomon King Benge wants young people to develop a creative skill set they can apply to solve issues specific to their lives.
“We have a team in northern Uganda building an automated farming program,” explains 32 year-old King Benge. “The project includes an irrigation system for crops and also a temperature monitoring solution to make sure… cow feed doesn’t overheat and go bad. The students are also working on an automatic seed dispenser to feed pigs.”
Ugandan learning
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Robots are also playing a more prominent role in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Eight feet tall robotic traffic wardens designed and built by a team of local engineers, have been recording and controlling traffic 24 hours a day for just less than a year.
As the Ugandan students learn new ways to build robots, King Benge says there’s no limit to what could emerge from the workshops and retreats.
“When I see the students coming up with innovative ideas I really see minds are being changed. Students are being exposed to the creative process and I look forward to seeing them come up with bigger projects in five or 10 years time.”
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