Computer science major Noella Akuzwe, A25, grew up in Kigali, Rwanda. This summer, she was back, working on an event to inspire Rwandan students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
The exhibit and competition, organized by the Rwanda Makerspace Consortium in collaboration with Tufts’ Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) and funded by a Lego Foundation grant, involved 20 schools and hundreds of students. As one of two Tufts undergrads among the CEEO staff on the ground in June, Akuzwe helped the young students and teachers prepare for the competition, which showcased ideas on how to build green communities.
The CEEO helms the Playful Engineering-Based Learning project, which supports organizations in encouraging students to explore creative problem-solving through STEM. This approach resonates with Akuzwe.