The Lambaye Innovation Challenge

Overview

The Lambaye Innovation Challenge is an innovative cross-cultural program aimed at primary and secondary school students designed to increase access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) education in rural Senegal. Through a yearlong expert-guided workshop series, students will have access to STEAM experts and have the freedom to identify a problem they are passionate about and provided the STEAM resources to attempt an innovative solution.

Goals and Objectives

Teams of students in Senegal will be paired with U.S. high school students and participate in a series of workshops led by U.S. and Senegalese STEAM experts to work together to identify a problem in their community and propose and implement a solution using STEAM skills.

1. Increase access to STEAM education in rural Senegal

• A 16 part expert led workshop series will teach STEAM skills throughout the year

2. Develop skills in business, science, and technology

• Students will identify a project to work on in their local community where they identify a problem they face and use STEAM skills to propose and then implement a solution to it.

3. Promote cross-cultural collaboration

• Students in Lambaye will work with experts from both the U.S. and Senegal, as well as students at Mamaroneck High School throughout the entire process

Watch the film about the innovation challenge and our plans for the future

Funded through the U.S. Embassy in dakar

We are incredibly excited to have received the maximum grant to fully fund this project through the U.S. Embassy in Dakar! Students for Senegal received the maximum grant amount through the U.S. Embassy Dakar Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State Annual Program Statement (PAS-DKR-RSOI-FY20-02) a grant designed to strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Senegal through cultural, educational, capacity building and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. We look forward to working with the State Department and are incredibly grateful for their confidence and support. This funding will allow us to fully implement the vision of the Lambaye Innovation Challenge.

A Guided Workshop Series

Student driven • Expert led

Workshop series a: Introduction, Team Building, and Problem Solving

Students will engage in welcome activities to create a sense of community and purpose within the LIC. They will participate in team building and group work centered lessons, focusing on developing skills that will allow them to work successfully with a team. Students will get to know one another, on the ground mentors, and U.S. peer mentors. Students will also be introduced to the concept of change and change agents.

workshop series b: Problem Identification, Research, Research Methods, and Strategization

Students in the village will identify a problem that they are passionate about within their community and will learn the research skills needed to identify and solve it.

workshop series c: Engineering and Implementing a Solution

Students will create a solution to their topic of choice. They will decide the most effective method to implement their solution in the village, with the guidance of their US mentors. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their solution and revise, if necessary.

Program Documents