The Helping Africa Foundation (HAF) dedicated three Yamoransa Model labs, YM Labs 6,7 and 8 in the Volta, Oti, and Western Region respectively in November 2020.
YM Lab 6
The YM Lab 6, which is located at Peki- Avetile in the Volta region, comprises a 40 seater fully furnished ICT centre, a makerspace for 3D Printing, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Robotics to advance the teaching and learning of ICT. The facility also has a 40-seater conference room for workshops, seminars, and meetings. The facility was dedicated on Tuesday November 17, 2020.
The selection of Peki- Avetile in the Volta Region was largely influenced by Mr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, Vice President of Association of Ghana Industries. The facility intends to serve 10 to 15 schools in the community, while providing avenues for practical ICT education to improve students’ standard of learning.
YM Lab 7
The YM Lab 7 was sited in Nkonya Ahenkro in the Oti Region of Ghana through the collaboration with Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekufful, the Minister for Communications in Ghana. The Facility comprises two 24 seaters fully furnished ICT labs, a Makerspace for Robotics, 3D Printing, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Robotics and a 40-seater Conference room for meetings, seminars, training, and workshop.
The facility intends to serve 27 schools in the community in an attempt to provide a hub for practical ICT learning. The facility was dedicated on Thursday November 19, 2020.
YM Lab 8
The YM lab 8 which is located in Bogoso in the Western Region of Ghana the 8th lab deployed under the YM Labs Program. The Facility comprises two 24 seaters fully furnished ICT labs, a Makerspace for Robotics, 3D Printing, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Robotics and a 80-seater Conference room for meetings, seminars, training, and workshop. The facility was dedicated on Tuesday November 24, 2020
The community, for the first time in the YM history, constructed a new 1 floor storey building to house the project. The building’s ground floor, which was completed at the time of the dedication, housed the two 24-Seater EDULabs. The first floor which is set to be completed by the first quarter of 2021 will house the makerspace and the conference room.
The facility intends to serve about 18 schools within the community while providing them with the best opportunities of practical education to improve their standard of learning.
Sustainability Plan for YM Labs 6, 7 and 8
The YM Labs 6,7 and 8 have been equipped with a sustainable plan to ensure they are active and functional. Due to the lack of constant electricity and the expenses it comes with, all three labs are powered by solar energy. This is to ensure the center does not become ineffective due to their inability to pay utility bills. It is also meant to prevent Center Managers from charging the students which will ultimately prevent them from using the facility.
The Conference room addition is also a strategic plan to ensure the facility has avenues for conferencing to generate income to run independently in the years to come.
The Dedication Events
Speaking at the dedication ceremony for all three labs, the community leaders of each lab expressed their gratitude for the provision of these labs in their various communities. The also acknowledged the impact the lab will drive in the lives of the students and people in the community. They also acknowledged that students can spend their leisure time at the labs instead of engaging in unproductive activities.
The President and Executive Director of HAF, Dr. Deborah Rose and Mr. Japhet Aryiku urged all the communities to ensure that they make good use of the facilities. She encouraged the community to give the students unlimited access to the facilities and ensure that the usage of the lab reflects in their lives.
