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RÚ is an educational initiative that supports robotics-centered research, development and competitions in Africa. We aim to:
- promote culturally-integrated education and project-based
competencies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
industries;
- support active, creative and fun engagement in these knowledge
industries through school ahd hobby clubs, and enterprises; and
- develop and organise competitions that propose to resolve infrastructure challenges and environment constraints.
Vision
Our vision is engage schools and learners with scientific and
engineering activities that are relevant to Africa's environment,
infrastructure and cultural education.
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Africans
face unique challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. The key
challenge is to stimulate cultural evolution beyond competitive
sustainability on planet Earth. The opportunities depend on
integrating social psychology, mathematical analysis, scientific
problem-solving, systems engineering, and funds management.
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Organization
Our
primary focus is to engage students and community leaders in
experiences that are realistic simulations of the challenges and
opportunities ahead. We coordinate and resource the network of SEIFÁ
clubs to contest in the ROBOTSEIFÁ tournaments, which feature
open-source technologies. We also support other technical
competitions. We encourage the involvement of communities in
monitoring and measuring environmental or infrastructural
deficiencies. We seek to partner with enterprises that can
commercialise the output of our knowledge network, and so, improve
the financial sustainability of our work.
SEIFÁ: Local Robotics Clubs
A
school can set up a SEIFÁ after-school robotics club. Young members in the our after-school
programmes engage in fun-packed, intelligent activities that go
beyond the Universal Basic Education (UBE).
Outside
schools, a group of robotics enthusiasts can organise a SEIFÁ
club. These clubs can based at a laboratory and workshop facility
supported by the Ralaran Uleimokiiri. Most of these facilities enable
open-access. Open-access means that anyone can come to learn, dream
and create things at a SEIFÁ, and socialise with like-minded
people. Each facility is managed by its membership (the SEIFÁ
club), which elects officers for terms of 2 - 4 years.
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All
SEIFÁ will aim to send delegates to robotics-enabled tournaments,
and must promote key competencies in computer-aided design (CAD),
printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication, electronics, mechanisms,
software programming and systems integration.
In
addition to supporting these core competencies, the particular
composition of tools and equipment at a SEIFÁ will depend on the
interests of its membership.
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It is
intended that a SEIFÁ will have tools and equipment for
fabrication in machining, ceramics, fashion, etc and computers for
software and digital arts programming, as well as laboratory for
research and testing in electronics, environmental monitoring, and
scientific experiments.
Membership
fees go towards meeting the operational and maintenance costs of SEIFÁ facilities. Additional fee contributions may be required to
fund the facility with utilities backup (electricity, internet,
water, waste) and with stocks of commonly used parts and materials.
Members
are expected to bring their own parts and materials for any
activities they are involved in. Adapting, reusing or recycling the
many materials (natural and used) in our environment to make new
parts and machines is fun, and it solves problems not only of
environmental pollution but also of the accessibility of parts for
your projects.
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