STEM 5 Days Boot Camp for Girls at Yankari Game Reserve

Space Name:  American Corner Bauchi       Program :       Summer Boot Camp for Girls

Participants:   SS3 Students                            Attendance:   45

Date:               12-17 Aug, 2013                      Time:               7am to 10:00pm daily

Venue:                        Yankari Game Reserve

The American Corner in collaboration with Bdabest Concept organizes a 5 days Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Boot Camp for girls at Yakari Game Reserve Bauchi.

The program which draws 45 participants from the 20 Local Government areas of Bauchi State seek to Motivate young Nigerians towards careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics which is the foundation for any nation that aims to become self-reliant through industrialization.

Participants were engaged by lectures and hands on exercises in Mathematics/Physics by Sabo Usman Hamma Phd, Chemistry by Hussaini Gende, Use of English by Babangida Yerima and Environmental Technology by A. Q. Ibrahim Phd all Lecturers from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi.

The camp seek to Identify young talents and nurture them to maturity in these areas  to produce more medical doctors, nurses, science teachers, farmers, laboratory scientists, computer engineers for the nation through the camp activities. It will also provide learners with instructional materials/activities that will facilitate academic excellence in mathematics, science, technology and related courses.

The Summer Boot Camp  will therefore remove the fear associated with the study of STEM based subjects through activities such as science fairs and camps that make the subjects a fun to learn.

Benefits of the Program:

The Boot Camp avail the participants the opportunity to learn in a serene environment away from the conventional classroom whilst appreciating nature.  They also had the opportunity to be coached by seasoned Lecturers who took time and do their best to teach as well as explain the various subject to the level  of the students understanding all with a view to making them succeed in the forthcoming WAEC/NECO examinations. And as the first  program of its kind, the Bauchi State Government Pledges to continue the program each year with full sponsorship. three students won 1^st 2^nd and third positions  with a winning prize of 10, 5, and 3 thousand Naira each courtesy of Hajara Yakubu Wanka Foundation.

Participants Feed Back on What They Learned at the Camp?

Sa'adatu A. Yusuf (First Prize Winner): I learned so many things on this Camp which will surely impact my life. Most of all, I learned how to mingle with other people from a totally different background. I learn how to endure some painful experiences and also be patient in all circumstances. It was indeed a wonderful camp experience. And as a result of this Camp, I plan to forge ahead with my education and be the best I can to make my country, my parents and all other citizens proud.

Regina Lazarus: I learned so many things during the camp most especially what I want to become in future, and for the subject I am having problems with, thank God now I understand and that is Chemistry. I really learn more things in fact the camp is very interesting. As a result of this camp, I will make sure I read hard and concentrate in my studies, and you know in life, you will not do something without knowledge and before you achieve something in life you most suffer for it. If you plan your goal wisely, you will really become something in future.

Abigail Godiya: I will make sure I make good use of what I have learned and also teach those that did not have the opportunity to be here, it was such a wonderful experience, and I will make sure I put more effort on my studies so that I will be opportune to attend another program in the future. We really appreciate the government for their wonderful support and also Malama Binta the organizer.

Fatima Abubakar Sarauta: This is the most beautiful question and I will answer, without any mistake, I am 

so happy of this Camp and I learned so much things that I can recall some of them, some are how to live with other people and how to respect elders, and the most important thing which is education. First of all I will like to continue keeping it up and I will try my best to see I help my younger ones. And I pray that I become a Medical Doctor.

Pamela Johnson: It is very exciting to be at this Camp, it was a very good experience being at a place like this. During my stay at the Camp, I learned so many things that cannot be forgotten in my life. I learned things like knowing the importance of education because it is what we Nigerians need to be challenged with.

Chelsea Ebubechi Peters: I learned to be independent no matter the situation, I have also been taught some science subjects, which we didn't learn in our school, its been such a glorious and wonderful moment. Again and most importantly I have learned to interact, endure and show concern for people. I hope to see and attend a camp like this. I will use my knowledge of what I have learned to make progress in my academic pursuit and also apply it in several areas in my life. No matter the situation that comes my way, I will learned to cope because it is part of things we were thought to do. Finally, when I grow up to be a Medical Doctor which is my future ambition, I will help my country Nigeria by impacting my knowledge of what I have learned so that they can benefit from it. Thank you.

Habiba Habu Haruna: To be sincere, since I was born, I have never seen a very wonderful program like this before. Truly, I have never understand mathematics like this. I also learned how to live together with many people from different places. I will also like to thank the American Corner for organizing this wonderful program and by God grace, I will try to force myself in reading and engage myself in extra lessons.

15/06/2013

The American Corner Bauchi in collaboration with the Public affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in
Nigeria today organizes two consecutive Video Screening program on Conflict Resolution &
Entrepreneurship for some youth in the community.

Conflict Resolution; Conflict arises from differences, both large and small. It occurs whenever people
disagree over their values, motivations, perceptions, ideas, or desires. Sometimes these differences
appear trivial, but when a conflict triggers strong feelings, a deep personal need is often at the core of
the problem. These needs can be a need to feel safe and secure, a need to feel respected and valued, or
a need for greater closeness and intimacy.

Entrepreneurs; The ability of entrepreneurs to innovate is thought to relate to innate traits such as
extroversion and a proclivity for risk-taking. According to Schumpeter, the capabilities of innovating,
introducing new technologies, increasing efficiency and productivity, or generating new products or
services, are characteristic qualities of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are catalysts for economic change,
and researchers argue that entrepreneurs are highly creative individuals with a tendency to imagine
new solutions by finding opportunities for profit or reward. Largely due to the influence of
Schumpeter's heroic conceptions of entrepreneurs, it is widely maintained that entrepreneurs are
unusual individuals. In line with this view, there is an emerging research tradition investigating the
genetic factors that are perceived to make entrepreneurs so distinctive (Shane and Nicolaou, 2013).
After the usual introduction, the program starts with Ice an Breaker "Help Yourself" participants take a
couple pieces of candy and then share something about them for each piece of candy they took.

I set the ball rolling by throwing a question on What conflict is? and all participant express their views as
well as why conflict is a constant struggle that happens every day. We also talked about the best way of
thinking it through with a reference to Albert Einstein quote; "Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only
be achieved by understanding. The second question was on who is an entrepreneur?.
It was followed by a 17minutes video (In The Mix) for teens by teens titled "Conflict Resolution: Thinking
it Through" the video shows to the participants how their age mates in a diverse suburban high school in
the U.S. handle being angry as well as problems they encounter in their experiences of conflict.

It was followed by another 30mn video on Young Entrepreneurs captioned Building & Growing A Business by Biz Kids.

The American Corner Bauchi in collaboration with the PAS and in conjunction with
InspLIFT Trainers has organized a two days Young Leadership Training for 40 pupils of
senior secondary schools in Bauchi.

The training is specifically tailored towards developing leadership skills among youth and
strengthening their understanding of the fundamentals of development and human right,
creating a personal and social vision as well as leadership abilities.
During a brain storming session where the participants were split into five groups to discuss
and offer solutions to the following issues bedeviling our society, the issues discussed
are:-
• Education
• Social problems
• Security problems
• Politics
• Economic

Leadership and visionary examples were sighted using Late U.S. President Kennedy, Bill
Clinton, Nelson Mandela, China’s Chairman Mao, India’a Mahatma Ghandi and finally
Martin Luther King Jr. all of whom are visionary leaders that make a difference. This was
followed by a film show on “Eyes on the Price in Remembrance of MLK.
Participants were very happy with the program and have pleaded for the continuation of
such a good gesture.
Result: at the end of the event, participants have gained some leadership skills that will
help them in the pursuit of their various dream and aspirations. The same program will be
repeated for another 40 students the coming week therefore making the total beneficiaries
to 80 students.

Media: the program was covered by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

World Tuberculosis Day 2012

American Corner Bauchi in collaboration with PAS of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has today observed the World TB Day with an awareness creation program

World Tuberculosis Day is a worldwide event that aims to raise public awareness of tuberculosis and the efforts made to prevent and treat this disease. This event is held on March 24 each year and is promoted by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

Tuberculosis, or TB, is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycrobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the disease. WHO estimates that the largest number of new TB cases in 2005 occurred in south-east Asia, which accounted for 34 percent of incident cases globally. However, the estimated incidence rate in sub-Saharan Africa is nearly twice that of south-east Asia. During an interactive discussion, the resource person Dr. Balogun Israel Adekunle of the infectious Disease Hospital in Bauchi said that TB was the number 1 killer disease before it was discovered and still remains a major challenge despite the enormous awareness campaign. He enumerated some of the risk factors of TB to smoking and poverty. Although he says TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to
become infected. But one-third of the world’s population has latent TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with disease and cannot transmit the disease. But luckily he said the disease is cureable and the treatment is free.

He urged the participants at the program to be peer educators and advise those that have a persisting cough of more than two weeks to go and have a sputum test as a preventive major.
Questions: some participants asked the Doctor some question about the possibility of contacting the disease through sneezing as well as wither one can get the disease from eating Cola nut of excessive coffee drinking? all of which the doctor clarify to some extent.

Reading (Catching them young)
Learning to read is an important skill every child must develop to be successful in school. Regardless of the subject matter taught, a child must be able to read and comprehend what they are reading. Good reading skills are the foundation for a proper education. These days instead of reading books, many children spend their time playing computer games or browsing the Internet. It is often difficult for parents to entice their children to read a book. Reading requires practice and developing excellent reading comprehension requires children to read books. In order for children to comprehend other subject matters, they must have good reading comprehension.

I t is in the light of the afore mentioned that the American Corner Bauchi host 21 JS1 students of Sunshine International Secondary School on a two hour reading session with a view to catching them young by inculcating the love of reading.

The students concentration was on scholastic for children where they read books such as Children Encyclopedia, National Geographic Atlas, United States of America (Enchantment of the World), the Statue of Liberty, scholastic Atlas of Weather and Ocean as well as the Lewis and Clark expedition etc.

The American Corner Bauchi in collaboration with the PAS has today the joint hands
with RTI/LEAD, the State Ministry of Water Resources, Rural & Water Sanitation and
other stake holders to celebrate the World Water Day 2012.
International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing
attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management
of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General
Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.
Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater and this year’s
theme is; Water & Food Security. The two hour celebration begins with goodwill message
by the representative of UNICEF ‘D’ Field office and was followed by a welcome address
by the Commissioner of Water Resources. After observing these protocols, a paper
presentation titled “Advocating for multiple use water services approach as pancea to
unemployment, hunger and increasing poverty in Bauchi State was delivered by Engr.
Yusuf Mailadi of RTI/LEAD.

Many of the participants are of the opinion that the government needs to redouble their
effort in the provision of drinking water to the populace because lack of portable water
contributed a lot to the issue of poor sanitation which causes death from cholera and
other related illness.

During the occasion, the American Corner stand distrubutes copies of World Water Day
brochure to all participants courtesy of; http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/downloads/
WWD2012_BROCHURE_EN.pdf. It was also an oppurtunity for the Corner to showcase it’s
service & social activities through the display of American Corner FAQ sheet and copies cross
Roads.

The American Corner Bauchi in collaboration with the PAS has today the 21st of March
commemorate The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as
observed annually with a documentary series on the civil rights movement that brilliantly
illuminates the struggle for racial equality and social justice . Proclaiming the Day in
1966, the UN General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its
efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

The documentary is titled “Awakenings and Fighting Back” a potion from the six hour
award winning Eyes on the Prize which is a compelling human stories that seeks to
engage viewers into discussing the landmark event that took place far back 1954-1962.

The whole audience 28 were very surprised as well as emotional to the kind of struggle
they saw on the video and thus their perspective on the struggle for freedom was changed
especially the idea of peaceful and non violence protest taking into consideration the bus
boycott. They unanimously appreciate the effort of these brave men/women on their effort
and fight for racial equality of which we all enjoy today.