Many readers will remember the Global Air Drone Academy (GADA) as a drone training institution that has been working with the American Embassy to conduct drone technology bootcamps in Zambia and Nigeria.
Well; the academy has reared its beautiful head again; this time in Zimbabwe, where they – in conjunction with Let Girls Read, Run, Grow (LGRRG); an organisation that supports the development of African adolescent girls through education, athletics and entrepreneurship – held a three-day Sport and STEAM camp for a select group of 150 underprivileged children from the Zimbabwe capital, Harare, last month.
ACES Academy, one of the prestigious football training schools in the country also tagged along as a project partner.
LGRRG founder Idara Otu was there from the beginning – from when her organisation sought to raise the $26,000 needed to get the project off the ground, right up to the closing ceremony on August 6 when the project saw its successful completion.
Apparently, Idara’s hard work was all worth it; as she and her team had a great time with the kids in Zimbabwe. As she herself testifies, she was taken in by the hospitality of the people of Zimbabwe; loved the pleasantly surprised faces on the trainees’ faces as they opened their welcome kits; and enjoyed introducing the children to the magic world of drones.
Below is Idara’s testimony, which we hope you will enjoy.
I cannot believe almost a month has passed since Camp NexGen™ Zimbabwe! I’ve tried many times over the last few weeks to pen a short reflection on the experience we had, finding it hard to put it all into words how incredible and transformative our time in Zimbabwe truly was.
This trip marked my first journey to Zimbabwe and LGRRG’s first project and camp in southern Africa. Excited by the expansion away from the familiar terrain of West Africa, Zimbabwe presented an opportunity to expand my own working definition of African culture all while providing opportunity and hope for vulnerable children in Zimbabwe in a fun, and exciting way.
Over three days (August 4–6, 2022), we welcomed 150 kids aged between eleven and fifteen, from the Snake Park, Mabvuku, and Hatcliffe communities of Harare to take part in Camp NexGen™ — the ultimate Sport and STEAM experience.
Powered by the support and partnership of Global Air Drone Academy, Miracle Missions, ACES Academy, and Eaglesvale School, all the 150 campers were able to take part in athletic training (football, netball, and cricket), and learn how to build and fly drones!
On the surface, a day playing soccer and flying drones would sound fun to anyone, but what made the experience so impactful, was that for many of the campers, the first time ever hearing about a drone was at our camp! (Note: The first time I flew a drone was at our Camp in Lagos, Nigeria in 2019).
Seeing the difference from breakfast time where all I saw were blank stares looking back at me when the word “drone” was uttered (not all the campers spoke English and there is no equivalent word in Shona, the local language spoken by the campers), having to describe the drone as a “camera bird”, to the end of our program when our campers confidently pitched the name, purpose, and type of drone business they would one day start, we were able to see learning in real-time.
At the end, I witnessed Leon one of the young campers, presenting to the group that he was going to be the CEO of Drone Deliverance Medicine Company (DDMC), a start-up that would specialise in surveillance and fertilizing crops; and I believed him. There is no doubt in my mind that Leon will one day start his agricultural drone company.
Also moving was the visit we had from Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, the most decorated African Olympian (the celebrated former swimmer has been at the Olympic Games five times, winning multiple medals in the process).
Here was a member of parliament and a worldwide ambassador for both Zimbabwe and Sport showing up to greet and hangout with children of little means. The kids were ecstatic to meet and hear her speak.
A note a validation for me, and what LGRRG was hoping to accomplish, it was an honour to have the Minister come encourage and instil hope in our campers — many who would never have the means to take sport seriously. Knowing that their very own countrywoman could be such an accomplished sportsperson gave them the right to start to dream their own sport dreams.
Over the course of our three-day camp, I saw a metamorphosis from what seemed like timid children, sceptical about who and what these foreigners visiting them were all about, to a rambunctious bunch of animated children who had just experienced the best days of their lives (probably mine too).
Nervous smiles in the morning, became bellied laughter, hugs, and high-fives when it was time to call it quits on the day.
The adage says it takes a village to raise a child, but I would posit for Camp NexGen, it truly took a village. Fully deserving of a forthcoming longer post, this camp would not have been possible without our volunteers, on-ground partners, and donors.
From the gift bag packing party held the night before the start of camp, to playing soccer with the campers, and teaching a camper how to fly a drone (while sometimes, learning themselves), it was a blessing to see how our volunteers came alive over the course of the day.
Though we were technically the ones giving back to the students through our time and resources, the campers gave us so much more in their joyous spirits, inquisitive exploration, and creativity. Many asked us to come back again soon, and I know many of our volunteers will not hesitate to fulfil their request.