Israeli Non-Profit Opens First STEM Center In Sierra Leone

An Israeli non-profit organization has announced the inauguration of its first STEM center in Sierra Leone.

SmartAID, a group of veteran humanitarian aid workers and high-tech entrepreneurs that operates globally, has established over 100 STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) centers to date in over 16 countries, reaching tens of thousands of students from the age of 12 to 27. 

It inaugurated the state-of-the-art facility in collaboration with STEMpower, a non-governmental organization that implements STEM programs in Ethiopia and other African countries. 

The center, located in the Every Nation College in Bo City, is equipped with cutting-edge amenities including 30 fully functional work stations, an advanced electronic laboratory, and a 3D printer. 

These resources will provide high school students in the surrounding areas with unrestricted access to a comprehensive educational experience, fostering their growth and development in STEM disciplines.

“This is the first time I’m seeing something like this, especially the electronics lab. It will undoubtedly have a far-reaching impact on the scientific and technological knowledge and aptitude of our youth,” said Mr. Christian Johnson, Vice President of Every Nation College. 

Shachar Zahavi founded SmartAID after years of providing humanitarian assistance through various organizations. He found that there was a gap between the tech world and charity world, and he wanted to bridge them together through a single organization.