Kimroy Bailey Foundation Takes Robotics To Lowe River

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

LOWE RIVER, Trelawny: MORE THAN two dozen enthusiastic children in Lowe River and surrounding communities in south Trelawny were recently given an introduction to robotics courtesy of the Kimroy Bailey Foundation, which worked in association with the Digital Yard Foundation and Access Financial Company Ltd.

The Science, Robotics and Renewable Energy camp took place at Bailey’s alma mater, the Lowe River Primary and Junior High School, and was one of six that took place islandwide for children under 16 whose parents are either employees or clients of Access Financial Company Limited.

Bailey said the initiative was aimed at increasing interest in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among the young.

With organisers prepared to accept between 15 and 20 students, 29 showed up on the first day. However, Bailey and two volunteers, Raymond Ferguson and Marcel Clarke, did not turn away any of the eager learners.

The first half of the camp was designed to allow the participants to see how important science, robotics, and renewable energy can be in everyday life.

The second half, tailored to innovations and making ideas coming to life, was led by Raymond Ferguson, a volunteer from the Kimroy Bailey Foundation.

Using kits provided by Digital Yard Foundation, students were divided into groups and instructed on how to make their very own simple machines, wind turbines, and a host of other items that brought science, robotics, and renewable energy to life.

three-day curriculum

“The camp was truly a superb experience for the students who came out and the volunteers that delivered the three-day curriculum,” Bailey stated.

“Mrs Weir, the principal of the Lowe River Primary and Junior High School, expressed gratitude that her school was selected for this pilot project, and the teachers all hailed the programme as a grand success and promised to keep us posted on the results of the participants in the 2014 GSAT examination.”

Bailey hailed the camp as “a big success for both students and organisers” and disclosed that both foundations planned to unveil a series of similar programmes in Jamaica’s primary and high school to accelerate the learning of STEM among youngsters.

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