TO ENHANCE the delivery of world-class STEM education to underprivileged K-to-12 students, Globe recently launched the Globe Maker Lab and Innovation Hub.

The program, in partnership with Mano Amiga, aims to spark interest and strengthen the knowledge and skills of students aged 10-13 in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. In the long run, it will help develop the workforce of the future.

The initiative includes a program for out-of-school youth and a teacher training program to help public schools launch their own Maker Lab and Innovation Hub.

High quality STEM education trains students to think critically, gather and analyze data, and solve problems through creative solutions.

Students were able to grasp the concept of electronics through STEM kits. In the culminating activity called the STEM challenge, students were asked to create fun and useful items using concepts they learned. The project that stood out was an artificial candle designed for use in emergency situations like typhoons.

“After the experiment I asked him why was he so happy and he said that even if he was failing while trying to do the experiment, it feels good that he is having fun while learning,” said the parent of a 10-year-old student under Globe and Mano Amiga’s Maker Lab and Innovation Hub program.

Mano Amiga is a school that provides affordable, high-quality K-12 education to learners from low-income families. The program was launched in October 2020 with the implementation of STEM Club wherein students learned electronics. A module on Coding was completed by the students during the first quarter of 2021.

“Globe’s vision is for the nation to embrace STEM education, which is vital to harnessing local talent and skills for economic advancement,” Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications, said.

“We want to instill early interest in STEM among students, to help them thrive and be more successful in this innovation-driven age,” she said

Mano Amiga thanked Globe for the partnership.

“As learning continues at home, we are grateful to Globe for enabling Mano Amiga to deliver a competitive and dynamic online STEM program to equip more Filipino students with skills and knowledge they need to thrive and innovate in an ever-changing, increasingly complex world,” said Lynn Pinugu, the group’s executive director.