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Apps and Girls

Glory Adam Mkunga: From Student to Innovator

Glory Adam Mkunga is a 17-year-old student from Kibasila Secondary School. Glory made an inspiring entry into the world of technology and innovation through the Apps and Girls GSI program. Driven by her passion and interest in STEM, she decided to join the program after the opportunity was introduced during a visit by the Apps and Girls team to her school. When joining, she dreamed of gaining more knowledge about STEM and acquiring skills that could help her solve real-world problems.

During the program, Glory chose the robotics class from the three available options: AI and machine learning, robotics, and web and app development. In her class, she gained hands-on experience in designing robots, programming, and tech entrepreneurship. She also learned how to present a business idea to sponsors, investors, and stakeholders. This experience proved invaluable when she entered the Women in Engineering competition in Zanzibar. In the competition, she created a prototype device—smart spectacles—designed to assist the visually impaired by detecting obstacles ahead using an ultrasonic sensor. Her innovation and the pitching skills she used to present her project helped her win first place out of 31 finalists from all over Tanzania. Glory credits this victory to the skills she gained through Apps and Girls, particularly in robotics and pitching. Her first-place win came with exciting rewards, including a laptop and funds to further develop her idea.

At the GSI program, she teamed up with her peers from the robotics class, as instructed by the trainers, to form a team of four and create a business idea that addressed a community challenge. Their team identified key issues faced by farmers, such as overwatering or underwatering crops—leading to up to 40% lower yields in key farming regions—and climate unpredictability, which makes it harder to determine when and how much to irrigate. They developed a robot called AGRIBOT, a smart robot that measures soil moisture levels and automatically irrigates crops when needed.

The skills Glory learned in robotics, coding, and pitching were put to use when she confidently presented AGRIBOT during the Apps and Girls GSI pitching competition. Her team won the first-place award and received tablets as prizes, further fueling her passion for innovation. Glory proudly shared that her success in this competition boosted her confidence and solidified her belief in using technology to create impactful solutions.

The knowledge and skills Glory gained through GSI have had a lasting impact on her academic performance and future career goals. She is now determined to pursue a career as an engineering and scientific inventor.

For Glory, coding was the most impactful lesson. “It has opened up so many opportunities for me,” she shared. She believes the GSI program is essential in today’s tech-driven world, providing students with the skills needed to be both competent and competitive.

Glory describes the GSI program as life-changing.

“It’s a great program that gives students the skills and knowledge they need to become innovators and solve challenges in their communities,” she said.

She encourages other students, especially girls, to take advantage of opportunities like GSI.

“If you want to make a difference in the world through technology, this is the program for you. It’s helped me achieve my dreams, and it can help you too,” she said