STEM Safari Express: Bringing Hands-On STEM Education to Underserved Communities in Nigeria

🧭 Campaign Summary

Too many students in Nigeria’s underserved communities never get the chance to explore science, technology, engineering, and math in a way that feels relevant—or even reachable.

Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola, a dedicated educator and Thinkering Fellow, is changing that. Her project, STEM Safari Express, will bring interactive, mobile STEM programming directly to schools and communities across southwest Nigeria.

With your help, we’ll transform a used van into a traveling STEM lab—reaching hundreds of students with hands-on materials, mentorship, and career exploration activities designed to spark curiosity and confidence.

🧠 The Problem We’re Solving

Most schools in the region—especially in rural or low-income areas—don’t have access to working science labs, computers, or maker tools. When it rains, school is canceled. When funds run short, enrichment disappears. And when it comes to STEM, the opportunities simply never arrive.

This lack of exposure not only widens equity gaps but also pushes students—especially girls—away from careers in STEM before they ever get started.

💡 The STEM Safari Express Solution

Rather than bring students to a central lab, the lab will come to them. The STEM Safari Express is a mobile van, equipped with:

Entry-level robotics kits
Maker and prototyping materials
Electricity and solar-powered workstations
Tablets for coding and digital literacy
Curriculum-aligned lesson plans tailored for local schools
Mentorship from STEM professionals and educators

The van will travel between schools, delivering high-impact programming that meets students where they are—and gives them a window into what’s possible.

🎯 What Your Donation Supports

We’re raising funds to launch Phase One of the STEM Safari Express:

Purchase and retrofit of a used van
Basic interior setup (tables, storage, solar panels)
Starter robotics kits and maker materials
Signage, branding, and school outreach
Local staff stipends and mobile safety/maintenance

📍 Goal: $14,000 USD
This covers a functional, reliable vehicle plus a starter kit to pilot in 5+ schools in its first 6 months.

👩‍🏫 About Dr. Olurinola

Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola is a science educator, curriculum designer, and founder of The Teaching Network Foundation. Through her Thinkering Fellowship, she has developed this capstone project to expand her existing outreach into a sustainable, scalable model—one that makes STEM accessible, mobile, and joyful.

She is already in collaboration with STEM Wonders, a U.S.-based partner supporting curriculum and strategic design.

🙌 Support STEM Equity in Motion

Every student deserves access to discovery. Every community deserves investment. And every child deserves the chance to say, “I can do this.”

Your donation brings the STEM Safari Express to life—and brings learning directly to the learners.

Donate today to fund the first mobile STEM lab of its kind in this region. Let’s put opportunity on wheels.

🤝 Powered by Community

This isn’t just a fundraiser—it’s a movement. Backed by Thinkering Collective and powered by community members around the world, this project is ready to scale. Together, we can create a model of mobile, creative, inclusive education that others can replicate across Africa and beyond.

And we won’t stop once the bus is on the road. We’ll keep supporting Dr. Olurinola’s work with mentorship, visibility, and new partnerships—so the STEM Safari Express keeps rolling, evolving, and reaching more children every year.

✨ Join the Journey

Dr. Olurinola is a passionate educator, an innovator, and a dreamer—but she can’t drive this vision alone.

Donate today and help us fuel the future.

STEM Safari Express: Bringing Hands-On STEM Education to Underserved Communities in Nigeria

Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola

Team Members