In Loreto upper primary classes the students have science fairs three times a year which are part of a larger project funded by the McCarthey Dressman Educational Foundation which provides afterschool programs for upper primary school students.

The science fairs have helped students gain confidence and stirred their interest in Science. It’s a highly anticipated event filled with educational entertainment, and a non-examinable exercise geared towards helping the pupils improve their grades as they understand class-based concepts more.

It is from these benefits that Loreto Secondary students drew interest from the termly Science fairs carried out by pupils in the Loreto Primary. During the second term, senior three and four students participated in an internal literature contests to help boost their understanding in art and set-books work. In the course of the term, several students tirelessly adventured in favorite topics of discussion in Science subjects.

In the last week of the second term, students showcased positive minds for positive leisure. After a couple of our usual end of term events like cultural day and sports, students gladly gathered under a large neem tree shade to present their scientific skills gathered over the practice period.

In the opening remarks, Mr. Wesley encouraged the learners to be innovative and have practical approach in class concepts to have a better understanding. He quoted, “A practical approach will help you understand better and retain longer the class learnt concepts.”

Students presented to their peers and teachers items basing topics on Science subjects with use of songs, demonstrations, dramas, narratives and poems. All were in harmony of the significance and adventure in learning Science. This depicted students’ love and interest for Science, a subject affiliated to men in most African cultures. Students laughed with enthusiasm as they listened to the Science prayer cited by Senior 2M students.

Using locally available materials like seeds, traditional motor and pestle, a group of students demonstrated the manufacture of oil. These oils are natural, healthy and cholesterol-free. Eliza Nyanajiek of S4 Science quotes, “You can manufacture this oil at home since the materials are within our reach.”

A group of Senior 4 Arts students demonstrated manufacture of detergents using local materials, an idea learnt from their Chemistry lessons. “With the poverty levels in the rural areas, these detergents will help cut cleaning costs in homes and other areas where soap is a necessity in daily cleaning activities. If soap is not easily affordable in the market, we can make ours and maintain a neat living space,” explains one of the presenters, Hellen Nyanathuoi of Senior 4 Arts.

As Nyanathuoi winded up her explanation, she invited students to line up and clean their hands. Students who did not have an idea of this process were surprised.

Asunta Agok of 4 Science caught students’ attention as she presented her work on sanitary pads. Stating that they are not easily affordable today, Asunta elaborated on her locally made reusable sanitary towels using a cotton cloth and Aluminium foil which reduces leakage. Students sighed in relief and joy. Soap and sanitary towels are hardly available to many high school students in under developed areas and these ideas could be helpful to help in self provision.

Mary Ajak of Senior 2M is one of the presenters on the making of shoe polish using local materials like paraffin, oil and charcoal. “Mix paraffin and oil and let it boil. Add the ground charcoal and leave it to burn. When cool you can use it to brush your shoes. When you lack money to buy polish you can use the locally available materials and make your shoe shine.”

To encourage students that we can get rid of dark nights in our homes, students demonstrated on how to make candle using local materials like honey wax and colours to make desired colours.

“This process is relevant and as you’ve observed, we used local obtained material like pawpaw tubes to shape candle and water for the cooling process of the melted honey wax. Since honey is available in our immediate and neighboring community, we can easily manufacture these candles and make sure we have light at home at night as most of our areas have no sources of light at night.” Lemona Hissen, demonstrator.

In Loreto, students embrace technology and they verified developing an advanced school admission system to manage students’ data, classes, dormitories, and generate students IDs stating that this is so reliable since hardcopy storage is so prone to loss. One can also transfer data to a hard drive once storage is full.

As students stirred more questions with the presenter, Bakhita Gimigu, giving back answers, she also encouraged students who wish to study and specialize in developing such a system, one may study Computer science or Information Technology and specialize in their area of interest.

As the students winded with joy of gaining more scientific skills, they were awarded with sweets and students happily dispersed to attend games as they anticipated for the next science fair.