When most young people are introduced to robotics, coding and artificial intelligence, their career paths seem predestined. We expect them to chase engineering degrees or become software developers. But 15-year-old Freda Owusuaa is quietly challenging that perception, proving that tech literacy isn’t just for future Silicon Valley engineers—it’s a superpower for anyone, anywhere.
Freda is currently a Form Two General Arts student at Nkoranza Senior High Technical School. Her technology journey began during her Junior High School days, when she stepped into the Yamoransa Model Lab 10. Since her own school did not have an ICT lab, Freda and her classmates with other beneficiary schools, travelled to the YM Lab for ICT lessons. She didn’t just learn; she thrived and maximised every opportunity. Over three years, Freda absorbed STEM lessons like coding, robotics and creative design, developing skills impressive to her instructors. Today, she is a student leader at Nkoranza Senior High Technical School, where she regularly assists her teacher by tutoring her peers in ICT. But what truly sets Freda apart is how she translates her digital skills into real-world resilience.
Beyond the classroom and during school vacations, Freda has found ways to apply her skills to create opportunities for herself and to support her family. Balancing two distinct side jobs, she seamlessly blends her tech education with entrepreneurship at a printing center where she leverages the digital literacy skills she honed at the YM Lab to format and print books. She also works at a phone repair shop, a male-dominated environment where she applies her robotics training in a remarkably practical way. The same methods and precision required to connect robotic components allow her to meticulously disassemble, fix and reassemble complex smartphones, according to Freda.
Although her experience in robotics and technology could lead her toward a conventional STEM career, Freda has a different vision for her future. She dreams of becoming a nurse and businesswoman; she sees technology as an essential tool that will support her ambitions. When asked why she doesn’t want to pursue a traditional STEM career, Freda giggled, explaining that for her, technology isn’t just a standalone subject—it’s a tool for the future. She eagerly shared that broadening her knowledge in tech and AI will be a massive asset as she pursues her true passions in health and business. Freda’s perspective highlights a crucial shift: she sees technology not as an isolated field, but as an enabler for her future success
Freda Owusuaa’s story is a powerful reminder that STEM education does not limit students to a single career path; rather, it provides them the ultimate toolkit for self-reliance and innovation. By blending the precision of robotics with the compassion of healthcare and the grit of a dual-job entrepreneur, Freda is redefining what it means to be a modern leader. She is proof that with the right resources like the Yamoransa Model Lab, a young woman can master technology not to change who she wants to be, but to ensure she has the power to achieve it. Whether she is repairing a phone today or administering health services to a patient tomorrow, Freda’s future is entirely on her own terms.
