In 2015, the Youth for Technology Foundation launched an Indiegogo campaign aimed at funding a budding 3D printing program to help close the STEM gender skills gap.
By the end of the campaign, generous donors helped meet and exceed YTF’s fundraising goal.
Nathan Janos was one of those donors.
“I donated to the project because I know the YTF team and all the great things they’ve done and I was looking to give back,” Nathan explained. “When Iooking to give back to communities I search for projects that focus on technology and teaching young people. I was especially drawn to YTF’s 3D Africa initiative because it fulfills these requirements. I’ve been involved at some level with YTF (either as a donor or volunteer) for many years now.”
One option as a gift for donors like Nathan was to receive a 3D printed design from the students in the program, with a suggestion to deliver this unique, custom item as a gift. And Nathan knew just the person.
“I happened to receive an email about the Youth for Tech Indiegogo project around the time I was considering proposing to my wife,” he explained. “When I was asked what kind of 3D project I’d like, I decided on a pendant and wanted to make it customized for my wife, Alex. I left it up to the YTF girls to design and print up the pendant using their own creative ideas.”
Today, Nathan and his wife are grateful for the 3D printed pendant and what it represents.
The students who made the pendant are also grateful for Nathan’s support.
The team that designed the pendant for Nathan was from the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) in Nigeria. During the 3D Africa pilot in Imo state, YTF divided the training into several stages. The first stage was computer appreciation, the second was Human Centered Designing (HCD) and then CAD modeling and 3D printing.
YTF’s Nigeria Country Manager Uchechukwu Ajuonuma explained the process from the students’ angle:
“During the HCD stage, we taught the girls how to identify people’s problems and how to offer solutions to them. This was exactly what happened between them and Nathan. The team of ten girl, under the leadership of Esther Nkwocha, met with Nathan via mail on several occasions to understand what his problem was. The problem identification stage entails lots of questioning and brainstorming processes.
After understanding exactly what Nathan wanted, they went ahead to start designing a solution to his need. The team told me that they were modeling a pendant. They asked me series of question for my assistance at some points, and then the Africa map-looking pendant was modeled.”
The team was represented by few girls (the lead and two others) to print the pendent. After the pendant was printed, the remaining team joined to finish and paint the pendant to give it an artistic look.
Nathan gives the students kudos for a job well done, made possible with YTF’s 3D Africa program and ultimately, through donors like him.
“It was a pleasant experience,” Nathan described. “I had a couple exchanges back and forth with the students before receiving our pendant in the mail along with a very nice hand written letter. The pendant itself was a surprise present for my wife and I had no idea what it would be like before it arrived. When we opened it we were surprised with a very unique and creative pendant that was personalized with Alex’s name and in the shape of Africa.”
This simple exchange has inspired not only the students to continue creating and learning, but has made Nathan excited for future opportunities as well.
“I’m looking forward to 3D printing revolutionizing our households!” Nathan said. “I expect to have a printer in our house some day that will solve fabrication needs for many small parts in the house.”
As YTF’s 3D Africa work expands, including a sister program in the United States, we can’t wait to see what other stories we uncover!
