Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
‘Our future is in these experiments’: science fair inspires young minds in Mekelle
International Maarif Schools host a vibrant day of invention and hope as students showcase ideas for a better tomorrow
By Chekole Alemu
On a sun-drenched Tuesday in Mekelle, northern Ethiopia, the schoolyard of the International Maarif Schools echoed with excited chatter, bubbling curiosity and the occasional controlled chemical reaction. Tables were laid out with home-built circuits, water purifiers, miniature wind turbines, and models that explained everything from climate change to human digestion. This was not just another school day it was Science Fair Day.
In a region still healing from the ravages of war, the fair offered something rarely felt in recent years: joy, normalcy, and imagination.
Dozens of students, some dressed in white lab coats, others in casual wear, presented their projects to peers, teachers, and visiting parents. Underneath the enthusiasm was a quiet resilience these were children who had grown up during a conflict, now channeling their experiences into ideas that sought solutions rather than division.
A community event
The event drew a wide audience. Among the guests was Mr. Muhammet Yasir, who praised the students for their inventiveness and the school for its commitment to fostering critical thinking in the face of adversity. Several parents attended, bringing with them a warm energy and visible pride. Their presence turned the schoolyard into a vibrant community hub part exhibition, part celebration.
“Today isn’t just about science,” one teacher reflected. “It’s about rebuilding confidence, nurturing the spirit of inquiry, and creating a space where children believe in the future again.”
The fair forms part of the school’s broader strategy of promoting interdisciplinary, hands-on learning, preparing students not just for exams but for life. With its international backing and philosophy of inclusion, the Maarif School in Mekelle stands as one of the few institutions in the region that consistently integrates global thinking with local relevance.
From theory to impact
Many of the projects were shaped by the everyday realities of life in Tigray. One group examined ways to recycle plastic waste into bricks, while another designed a cost-efficient irrigation system using household materials. There were robots, too programmed to respond to commands, a reminder that the digital world isn’t far removed from this remote, highland city.
“Children are full of solutions,” said a parent, watching her daughter demonstrate a home-made circuit. “We just have to give them the space.”
A quiet revolution
As the fair drew to a close, students gathered for a group photo, some still clutching parts of their experiments, others arm-in-arm, wide-eyed and smiling. Behind them, the slogans on their posters read like a manifesto: Innovate. Imagine. Impact.
In the shade of eucalyptus trees and under the careful gaze of teachers, the future looked at least for today bright, eager, and full of possibility.
Source፡The information is taken from International Maarif Schools of Ethiopian- Mekelle’s Facebook page.
Prepared by Mr. Chekole Alemu Berhe
Editor-in-Chief, Tigray Herald Media
Political Analyst, Peace Advocate & Strategic Media Leader.
chekolealemu5@gmail.com
