Summer Splash AI STEM Project 2026 brings technology, innovation and hands-on learning to young learners in Abuja
By Cynthia Talatu Batuta
ABUJA, FCT — The Hope Raisers Global Foundation (HRGF) has launched its Summer Splash AI STEM Project 2026, an innovative educational initiative aimed at equipping children in underserved communities with knowledge and skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The month-long programme, being held in Waru Community, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Federal Capital Territory, has brought together 80 children for practical learning, technology exposure, creativity and problem-solving activities throughout the August vacation.
The initiative forms part of HRGF’s commitment to expanding access to quality education, digital literacy and emerging technologies for children, particularly those from marginalised and low-income communities.
FROM SUMMER FUN TO FUTURE-READY SKILLS
For HRGF, the long vacation should not be a period of learning loss. Instead, it can provide children with opportunities to explore new interests, develop practical skills and discover their potential outside the conventional classroom.
The 2026 edition of Summer Splash places particular emphasis on AI and STEM education, recognising the growing influence of technology and digital skills on education, employment and everyday life.
Through interactive sessions, practical activities and age-appropriate technology lessons, the programme encourages participants to ask questions, experiment, solve problems and develop the confidence to see themselves as future creators and innovators.
EMPOWERING 80 YOUNG LEARNERS
The participation of 80 children in Waru Community provides an important platform for young learners to gain exposure to concepts that are increasingly shaping the modern world.
The AI component introduces participants to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and encourages them to understand how technology can be applied responsibly to address real-life challenges.
The STEM component complements this learning by promoting logical reasoning, creativity, experimentation, teamwork and problem-solving.
For children who may have limited access to technology-based educational programmes, the initiative offers an opportunity to interact with new ideas and develop skills that could influence their future academic and career choices.
HRGF’s objective goes beyond teaching children how to use technology. The foundation seeks to help them understand technology, create with technology and eventually contribute to Africa’s growing digital economy.
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
The Summer Splash AI STEM Project comes at a time when artificial intelligence, digital competence and technological innovation are transforming virtually every sector of the global economy.
However, unequal access to digital devices, quality educational resources, skilled instructors and technology-focused learning environments continues to place many children from underserved communities at a disadvantage.
By taking technology education directly into communities, HRGF is contributing to efforts aimed at narrowing this digital divide.
The Waru intervention is therefore more than a holiday programme. It represents an investment in digital inclusion, educational opportunity and future-ready skills.
WHERE LEARNING MEETS CREATIVITY
A key feature of the Summer Splash initiative is the combination of education and enjoyment.
Recognising that children often learn more effectively when they are encouraged to participate and explore, HRGF has created an environment where young learners can interact with new concepts while expressing their creativity.
The programme also provides opportunities for participants to work together, communicate, build friendships and develop teamwork skills.
By combining learning, creativity, collaboration and fun, the foundation hopes to create an experience that children will remember long after the August vacation.
THE DEED PHILOSOPHY
The Summer Splash project reflects HRGF’s broader development philosophy, known as DEED — Discover, Educate, Empower and Deploy.
The organisation seeks to discover potential within marginalised individuals and communities, provide education and opportunities for development, empower beneficiaries with relevant knowledge and skills, and deploy those capabilities towards productive participation in society.
The AI and STEM project represents a practical application of this philosophy by giving children access to knowledge and skills that could shape their educational and professional journeys.
NURTURING TOMORROW’S INNOVATORS
The importance of introducing children to STEM and AI extends far beyond the classroom.
Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are increasingly influencing sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, finance, manufacturing, communications and business.
Children growing up today will enter a world substantially different from that experienced by previous generations. Early exposure to technology can therefore help them develop the confidence to become active participants in the digital transformation rather than merely consumers of technology.
HRGF believes that a child’s socioeconomic background should not determine the limits of their imagination, creativity or access to learning opportunities.
COMMUNITY-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT
The choice of Waru Community in AMAC also reflects HRGF’s commitment to taking development interventions closer to the people who need them most.
By bringing specialised educational opportunities into communities, programmes such as Summer Splash can reach children who may otherwise have limited access to technology-focused activities during the long vacation.
The participation of 80 children underscores both the demand for such interventions and the need for sustained investment in accessible education and digital skills.
PARTNERSHIP FOR GREATER IMPACT
As the programme continues through August, HRGF is highlighting the importance of partnerships in expanding access to quality education and technology.
The foundation’s partners in the 2026 project include L2D, Enitan Growth Hub Foundation, Tech Herfrica, Tek4All and Tu2Minis Place.
HRGF notes that sustained collaboration among nonprofit organisations, educators, technology professionals, government institutions, private-sector organisations, development partners and individuals can help extend the reach of technology-driven education.
Such partnerships can provide children with learning resources, mentorship, practical experiences and exposure to opportunities that can strengthen their educational journeys.
BEYOND THE AUGUST VACATION
Although the Summer Splash AI STEM Project is taking place during the August holiday, HRGF’s vision extends beyond the programme itself.
The foundation hopes that the knowledge, curiosity and confidence developed during the project will encourage participating children to continue learning and exploring technology.
For HRGF and its partners, the long-term objective is to develop more programmes that respond to the changing needs of children and communities while ensuring that marginalised children are not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital world.
With 80 children participating in the Waru Community project, the foundation is using the August vacation to create a platform where young learners can learn, explore, experiment, discover new possibilities and begin imagining themselves as the innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow.
The splash may be happening this August, but the hope is for a lifetime.
ABOUT HOPE RAISERS GLOBAL FOUNDATION
Hope Raisers Global Foundation (HRGF) is a nonprofit organisation committed to empowering marginalised individuals, communities and societies to overcome adversity, achieve their full potential and live with dignity.
Its work spans humanitarian assistance, advocacy, education and community development and is guided by the principles of Discover, Educate, Empower and Deploy (DEED).
Contact:
Email: hrgfoundation@gmail.com
Phone: +234 803 201 1733