More than 100 Guyanese youths representing 16 robotics teams from regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 10 were honored last night in an unforgettable ceremony at the Marriott Hotel, Guyana. The event was co-sponsored by the IDB. Special guests included Minister of Public Service, Hon Sonia Parag, IDB Country Manager, Acting and Keynote speaker Ms Lorena Salazar Solorzano, US Ambassador, Sarah Ann Lynch, Tullow Representative, Mr Eon Stephens and UK High Commissioner, Ms Jane Miller.
Ms Salazar stated that, “Historically, science, technology, and innovation have had immense impact on ‘solving’ some of the daily challenges that people face especially when there are changes in the social and economic environments. It is also beneficial for development of the people, their communities, and their country. Guyana, for instance, is currently at a critical crossroad in its development pathway. The oil and gas sector is expected to make Guyana one of the richest countries in the western hemisphere and will generate much needed resources for investment. New jobs and opportunities will be created,”
Also in attendance, was Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag who was lauded for her ministry’s contribution to the STEMGuyana Programme in the form of sponsorship for the Guyana team’s travel to Geneva to participate in the First Global robotics competition.
In her brief remarks, the US envoy congratulated the children for their outstanding performance and also highlighted the importance of STEM programmes to national development.
STEM Guyana’s Co-Founder and Director Karen Abrams shared that, participation in the International Youth Robotics Competition exposes scholars to robotics and engineering concepts early, gives the students a competitive head start in an emerging industry, while also developing their creative, innovative, collaboration and problem solving skills. She also urged the young Team Guyana Robotics (FGC) scholars who were not able to secure visas to travel to Geneva, Switzerland to come, not to be desponded and to use the experience to strengthen their resilience and resolve to be successful.
STEMGuyana Director, Karen Abrams also announced that a national robotics competition will be hosted in March, 2023 to identify the top 5 teams that will compete in the 2023 IYRC robotics competition. She stated that this was because more than 100 teams from all ten regions of Guyana have expressed interest in participating in 2023. Abrams also announced the expansion of the organization’s parent academy program and the ‘website everywhere’ program which will be introduced in every learning pod and STEM club, and will result in the creation of a website for every club, which will be managed and maintained by the students, some as young as eight years old. This program will see the further strengthening of student literacy, communication, video and audio production for budding journalists and creatives.
The 3rd annual award ceremony was deemed a success by the parents, students, coaches, mentors, and special invitees who attended. For more information about STEMGuyana, email stemguyana@gmail.com, follow their facebook page @stemguyana or check out the organization’s website at www.stemguyana.com.
