Breina Burnett, ScoopUSA Media Intern
Imhotep Charter High School is making a difference locally and globally. Recently, some of the students participating in Imhotep’s STEM Program; Cyril Woodland, Sha’mir Ravenell, Jaida Jordan, JaNiece Watters, Isaiah Prater, Saifiyal Johnson, and Takayla Bell; and Shirley Posey Jackson, the director of the STEM Program; and other staff members, traveled to West Africa in Ghana and taught teachers and students at different villages about STEM and the importance of STEM education/awareness in all schools around the world. When the students returned to Philadelphia, we had an opportunity to speak with them about STEM and what they learned during their recent trip.
“I just really wanted to be a part of something that can change the world,” said Cyril Woodland, STEM student ambassador. According to the students and staff, this is exactly what they did on this trip. The highlight of the trip was when Imhotep STEM students purified the water from the village using the water filter they created back home in Philadelphia. Now those villages in Ghana not only have clean water; but know how to clean their water using the water filter. This change will make a difference in their day-to-day lives from morning to night, washing their body and face, brushing their teeth, drinking water, etc.
What is STEM?
If you are reading this and you aren’t familiar with what STEM is or the importance of STEM; it’s okay you’re not alone. It’s a combination of science, technology, engineering, and math. All of those disciplines can help solve real-world problems and address issues that are currently contaminating the world.
For instance, the current state of air quality in Philadelphia is considered poor and toxic, which resulted from the Canadian wildfires that affected the eastern corridor, including Philadelphia, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Not to mention, the toxic water outbreaks we experienced in Philadelphia in May and June. These real-world problems are more of a reason why STEM education is needed in Philadelphia schools.
During our interviews, we spoke with “Mama” Debbie Tooney, the Associate Director of STEM at Imhotep, and she shared, “I live in West Philadelphia and received the water alert, and I said thank God we have future scientists here at Imhotep helping to solve the problem and to bring awareness. So you can see that manifesting in these young people who are truly going to be the global change.”
Through STEM education, students can develop problem-solving, critical thinking skills, and creativity; this education opens doors to careers as engineers, scientists, and innovators. What the Imhotep students are learning is essential today and, in the future, as shared by JaNiece Waters, Imhotep STEM Ambassador, “Now that I’m in STEM, I can see how bad the situation is in our community, you can see it if you just opened your eyes. You can tell our air quality is bad if you travel to a suburban area and back. You’ll notice you can’t breathe as well. Children have very creative minds; you lose your imagination as you grow. Children put things you would never even think of together, and that can change the face of STEM itself.”
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