UG, ExxonMobil launch STEM project for special needs students

Through a partnership with ExxonMobil Guyana and the University of Guyana (UG), the Guyana Council for Organisations on Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) on Tuesday launched an initiative that will see students from four special needs schools benefitting from a new pilot programme in STEM robotics.

This newly launched initiative was developed by the Council with the objective to have children with disabilities included in learning modern technologies starting with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
This pilot project will be implemented into St Barnabas, David Rose, Diamond Special Education Needs Schools and the Open Doors Vocations Centre for the next six months, with students being exposed to robotics building, coding and others.

During the launch at the National Library, activist and programme coordinator, Ganesh Singh shared that after the six-month programme is executed, the Council hopes to make the programme accessible to other special needs students.
The initiative is fully funded by ExxonMobil Guyana.
Exxon’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe in her remarks said that the company recognised that supporting and empowering youth are important catalysts for development, especially through science and technology.
“That’s why STEM is one of ExxonMobil’s corporate responsibility focus area…I am confident that the young people taking part in this programme will discover exciting different ways to learn and enjoy creating new things.”
Additionally, the importance of this new venture to those benefitting was highlighted by Public Telecommunications Minister, Catherine Hughes, who pledged continued support towards the disability community.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, including US Ambassador Sarah Ann-Lynch, Canadian Ambassador Lilian Chatterjee and British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and Exxon’s representatives were among those present to celebrate the programme’s launch.