There is a unique kind of magic in watching the next generation teach the generation after them!
During a recent monitoring and impact assessment visit to Yamoransa Model (YM) Lab 5 in Kyebi, the IMPLEMENTERS team walked into a heartwarming scene: two senior high school students, who once sat in these very classrooms as learners, were now standing at the front of the room, teaching robotics to younger students. These young leaders, Christian Ofori-Appiah and Princess Eyram Sunu, represent the ripple effect of STEM education, where knowledge gained by one generation becomes an opportunity for another.
Christian’s spark was ignited when he served as a 2025 Ambassador of the GSTEP Youth Steering Group (YSG). The mentorship sessions and advanced masterclasses he attended didn’t just teach him technical skills; they gave him a vision.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve carried a dream, to inspire young innovators to discover their talents and potential through STEM. What I needed was a foundation to build my leadership skills and bring that dream to life.” — Christian Ofori-Appiah. (Cited from GSTEP)
Determined to turn his ideas into action, Christian collaborated with the Center Managers of YM Lab 5 to organise a robotics boot camp for young ones. Fuelled by a passion for service, he founded STEM Embassy after his experience in the YSG program, an initiative dedicated to delivering STEM training, mentorship and interactive workshops to schools, students and teachers.
Today, Christian is a General Science student at the prestigious Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC, Legon). Rather than taking a break during his school vacation, he chose to return to YM Lab 5 and maximise the students’ vacation period by learning skills such as coding and robotics. For Christian, it was a simple decision: the lab was the breeding ground that launched his journey, and he wanted to give back to the community that built him.
Christian did not embark on this project alone. He brought along Princess, a fellow alumna of YM Lab 5, to co-lead the robotics training. Princess is currently studying a specialised STEM program at Methodist Girls’ Senior High School. For her, the practical, hands-on lessons she received at YM Lab 5 were a turning point. The Lab served as a springboard, fueling a love for continuous learning that directly influenced her decision to pursue STEM in high school.
While Christian and Princess are still mapping out the exact details of their career paths, one thing is certain: their futures are deeply intertwined with science and technology. By returning to their community to teach younger learners, they are demonstrating that STEM education is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about creating opportunities for others.
The true measure of the Yamoransa Model Lab program lies in the self-sustaining success of its students. Christian and Princess exemplify how hands-on STEM learning empowers youth in underserved areas to transcend academic boundaries. Their transition from learners to leaders highlights the direct link between practical education, youth empowerment, and sustainable, community-led development.
