Kabul, Afghanistan
Can you remember the first time that you visited a science museum, seeing physics, chemistry and astronomy come alive? Listening to a heartbeat, seeing a life-size anatomical model of a human…wearing a surgical mask and gown. Learning about the astronauts and the solar system.Thanks to University Hills Rotary Club, kids in Kabul, Afghanistan have finally been able to see and experience these things. On August 17, 2017, the very first Children’s Museum for Science & Technology opened in Kabul, funded with a District Grant sponsored by the University Hills Rotary Club. Rameen Javid, a University Hills Rotarian, travelled to Afghanistan to oversee the project and inaugurate the museum in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kabul City.
The students were ecstatic about their tour on the museum’s opening day. Shoaib said “I truly learned a great deal.” The tenth grader from Kardan High School particularly emphasized that “the lessons that my teachers were teaching me in theory, I saw them being done practically today; I really felt satisfied.“ With several reporters chasing the 100 invited students and teachers from 5 different private and public schools, the museum seemed packed.“In my life, this is the first time I have seen such a learning place,” exclaimed Miss Sahar from Kabul-e Naween High School. The junior year student continued “especially in subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology, which are our main subjects, I learned a great deal.” The experience was almost unbelievable to Miss Adiba from Shams-e London High School, who admitted that, in her school, ”We do not have a space such as this.” The enthusiastic sophomore said “There is only one room set aside as a science lab in our school, but here, this was so productive. Everything was so great.”
According to United Nations, 70% of Afghanistan’s 30 million population is under the age of 25. Considering 38 years of constant war and unrest (Soviet-Afghan War: 1979 – 1989, Afghan Communist government: 1989-1992, Civil War 1992-1996, Taliban: 1996-2002, and NATO involvement: 2002 to present), it is no wonder that the outdated education system has put tremendous stress on the government’s resources to meet its educational needs.
Being partially a product of the Afghan education system, Rotarian Rameen Javid recalls that the schools lacked any educational materials for practical demonstrations. “And this is what we want to change”, he says; “we want the students to experience science with their own hands.”
The Children’s Museum for Science & Technology museum is a 1200 square foot space, housed in the basement of an office building, in the Taimani District of Kabul. It consists of three rooms and three staff members, with six areas of science: physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy and engineering. The Rotary Club of Kabul City monitors its operation.
The museum currently has the capacity to educate 100 students per day. In comparison to the huge demand, this number is a drop in the bucket; nevertheless, this is the first step in the right direction. The museum now focuses on the basics, in terms of systems, equipment, expertise, structure, staffing and space design. There are plans for additional phases, including introducing STEM level equipment, more professional staff and offering programs and science fairs. The ultimate goal is to create a professional regional level museum.
The Rotary Club of University Hills is looking for partners and donors to help fund ongoing operation costs and help fund Phases for this worthwhile project. Please contact Rameen Javid directly at rjavid@gmail.com if you would like more information.