2 min read
Video Credit: NASA/Dennis Brown, TechLit Africa
When it comes to inspiring the next generation, NASA interns know no bounds. Interns at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland taught students 7,600 miles away in Mogotio, Kenya, but thanks to technology, they didn't travel a single mile.
Collaborating with TechLit Africa - a non-profit organization that teaches digital skills in Kenyan rural primary schools - interns shared virtual lessons on robot simulation, artificial intelligence, and drawing and modeling applications.
"It was an absolute privilege to help these kids and being a part of it," said Marc Frances, extended reality developer and former NASA Glenn intern. "We do a lot of outreach events and try to influence kids from every part of life to become an engineer and be part of something that's bigger than themselves."
The opportunity arose after Herb Schilling, a Glenn computer scientist, met Nelly Cheboi, TechLit Africa CEO and founder, through a virtual event in 2020. The two began talking about Cheboi's work with Kenyan students, and Schilling felt inspired to get involved.
"I haven't done a lot of the teaching," Schilling said. "I let the interns do it, because I want to give them the experience and encourage them to do these kinds of things too."
