Our recent trip to San Luis Potosí, Mexico, had a very special purpose: launching our book "El Mundo de Sabbih" and giving a drone workshop. "El Mundo de Sabbih" tells the inspiring story of a determined young girl from Tanzania who overcomes all odds to pursue her dreams of becoming a robotics engineer. You can find more information about our school and the book here. We were very excited to present our book and share our passion for robotics and drones with the students of Colegio Sagrado Corazón.
Arriving at Colegio Sagrado Corazón
Our arrival at Colegio Sagrado Corazón was an incredible experience. With over 1300 students from kindergarten to high school, the school gave us a warm welcome. Colegio Sagrado Corazón in San Luis Potosí was founded in 1886 in the Old Convent of Carmen and, since 1916, has occupied the facilities we know today. It is an institution recognized for providing an education based on deeply human and Christian values, with a pedagogy and style unique to Sacred Heart Schools, present in 44 countries around the world.
Our first impressions were very positive, and the staff and students welcomed us with great enthusiasm. Four groups of 25 students attended the workshop, and everyone was very curious, asking many questions and participating interactively.
Presenting the Book "El Mundo de Sabbih"
During the presentation of our book "El Mundo de Sabbih," the students showed great interest in STEM topics, robotics, and Sabbih's school, as the story is based on real events. They asked us many questions about STEM, robotics, and about us as authors.
The book launch event lasted two hours, divided into two one-hour sessions with 50 students in each session. We began by introducing ourselves, then read the book, and talked about STEM and the importance of this field. Finally, we practiced flying the drone in the playground. The audience's participation and engagement were very high, especially during the Q&A session and even more during the drone flying practice. None of the students had flown a drone before, and everyone wanted to try.
A special moment was when the students became very concerned about the poor conditions of Sabbih's school in Tanzania. After watching the Instagram story where we filmed everything at Paje School, the students were very surprised to see the school's poor conditions. They were also intrigued by the dress code. Yes, in Zanzibar, the majority of the population is Muslim, so all women cover their hair with a veil.
Giving the Drone Class This was the moment the students enjoyed the most. The rule was that students were divided into two groups, and to fly the drone, they had to roll the big green dice and ask questions about the presentation to the other team. If the team could answer the question, they flew the drone; if not, the other team flew the drone.
The feedback was 100% positive, and the kids wanted us to come back for another session. Topics covered included drone components, flight training exercises, landing, flying in different directions, and being aware of the wind. The students' participation and enthusiasm were exceptional, and some of them managed to follow our instructions and complete the game successfully.
Visiting Colegio Sagrado Corazón's STEM Place After finishing the workshop, the teachers and the school principal showed us Colegio Sagrado Corazón's STEM place, where students have the opportunity to engage in multiple STEM projects (3D printing, DIY projects, computing projects, construction projects). This place, called "The Makers," is dedicated to expressing their creativity.
The STEM area is very spacious and beginner-friendly. During our visit, we observed that they were preparing projects for Father's Day, which we found very interesting.
Our experience exchanging with Mexican students was wonderful. We were the first Muslim African instructors they had met, and all interactions were respectful. We want to express our gratitude to all the staff at Colegio Sagrado Corazón for allowing us to present our book "El Mundo de Sabbih" and offer a drone class to fifth-grade students. The full article in Spanish here Sabbih's school in Zanzibar,Tanzania STEM Project San Luis Potosi
Presentation's slides
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