Togo

At Lomé Digital School, a summer camp is diving children into the world of technology with an ambitious goal: to form tomorrow’s innovators. By Steven Midjola.

At 14, Winner is already mastering motors, tweezers, and electronic circuits with impressive precision. Like 20 other children gathered in this Lomé summer camp, she’s learning the basics of robotics by building her first prototype. Technology isn’t just something you learn about – it’s hands-on, DIY, and experiential from a young age.

‘I’m making a robotic hand composed of tweezers and a motor brain. Since the start of the activities, I’ve learned about the place of technology in today’s world and the components of a robotic hand or technological objects,’ said Winner Koudjra, a participant.

But robotics is just the first step. A few hours later, she switches to software as Winner starts working on modifying a webpage to create artificial intelligence. ‘We’re working on changing a webpage to create an AI. Thanks to what I’m learning here, I’d like to be able to create my own website,’ she added.

The school also wants to reduce the gap between boys and girls in technology. According to UNESCO, women make up only 35% of STEM graduates worldwide and 26% of data science professionals. To address this, the program focuses on parity and scholarships for children from low-income families.

‘Our idea is to expose these kids to tools early on and ensure that tomorrow we don’t have to deal with quotas in technology,’ said Got’liebe Bataba, Lomé Digital School’s director. ‘Beyond the technical skills, we’re trying to develop critical thinking in them.’

‘I think this is a great opportunity. It’s an initiative that deserves recognition. This allows us to introduce our children to all things technology at a young age,’ said Vanessa Lawson, mother of a participant.

The school’s ambition goes beyond teaching tech skills – it aims to prepare the next generation of African innovators who will create solutions for tomorrow.