With just a balloon, recyclables, straws, and wooden skewers, can you build an air-powered car that can travel at least two meters? 

This was a recent design challenge given to a group of students at a STEM day camp in Bangkok.  After exploring physics principles through hands-on activities, the students were given these materials plus a hot glue gun, tape, paper, and pencil.  Each team designed, tested, and improved their vehicle until it could meet the challenge.

SEEDS members in Thailand recently hosted several science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) day camps like this one in low-income and underprivileged segments of the city as a means to inspire youth from these backgrounds toward STEM career opportunities.  

Students learned by exploring, investigating, and asking questions related to an interesting topic or real-world problem.  Next they worked in teams to develop something, test it, improve it, and present it to an audience.   

The participants of the club gained confidence, teamwork skills, and opportunities they would not have had otherwise.  It also increased their motivation to study the STEM subjects in school with more intentionality and enthusiasm.  These outcomes will in turn contribute toward future economic benefits for them and their families, in line with SEEDS objectives.