STEAM NGO Earns Global Changemakers grant to Scale STEAM Learning Nationwide

HelloPumpkins, a non-governmental organisation focused on expanding access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) education, has received a N2 million Global Changemakers grant to scale its hands-on learning programmes for children.

Global Changemakers, an organisation that empowers young leaders and grassroots innovators, said the grant underscores its mission to democratise STEAM education by supporting HelloPumpkins to provide immersive, practical workshops for young learners.

With the N2 million grant (about 1,000 Swiss Francs), HelloPumpkins is delivering practical science activities that promote creativity, innovation and computational thinking.

Jenny Daniel, founder of HelloPumpkins, said the initiative shows that impactful learning can be accessible, affordable and rooted in real-world application, giving children the chance to experiment, build and explore without barriers.

“With this support, HelloPumpkins has created an interactive learning space where children experimented with engineering concepts, explored wind science, and discovered colour theory using simple everyday materials,” Daniel said. “The initiative demonstrated that innovation begins from the familiar, and that children can learn complex scientific ideas through low-cost activities that spark curiosity, imagination and self-confidence.”

She explained that the workshop unfolded through three structured yet highly engaging segments designed to turn abstract concepts into relatable experiences.

The day began with a practical engineering exercise where children designed and built small wind turbines using household items. “Watching their turbines spring to life as airflow struck the blades became a defining moment,” Daniel said. “It showed them that ideas can take shape with creativity and simple tools.”

The second segment deepened the learning as participants built wind vanes and improvised anemometers to measure wind direction and speed. According to Daniel, this session generated some of the highest excitement as the children tested their instruments outdoors, observed environmental changes and connected them to scientific principles. “They weren’t merely told how wind works — they experienced its properties firsthand,” she said.

The final segment introduced children to the fundamentals of colour theory using Newton’s colour spinner. As the colours blended and transformed through motion, participants observed the relationship between light, colour and perception. The activity, Daniel noted, reinforced that science can also be artistic, visual and expressive.

She added that what made the workshop particularly rewarding was how quickly children began applying their new knowledge beyond the classroom — identifying wind patterns, questioning how objects move, or pointing out examples of colour blending in their surroundings. “Their enthusiasm validated HelloPumpkins’ mission and affirmed Global Changemakers’ belief that learning is most impactful when rooted in discovery,” she said.

Daniel also noted that Global Changemakers’ investment reflects its commitment to supporting community-driven educational initiatives that expand access to transformative knowledge. By funding grassroots programmes, she said, the organisation ensures that children—regardless of location or socioeconomic background—are equipped with future-relevant problem-solving, creative and computational skills.

“Throughout the workshop, our philosophy remained clear: learning thrives when children are given permission to invent, explore and question,” she said. “People often assume technology belongs only in advanced spaces, but its true value emerges in communities where opportunities are limited and transformation is needed most.”

She added that watching the children build confidently, experiment boldly and enjoy the process reaffirmed the organisation’s purpose. “Their curiosity made this workshop not just impactful, but truly special.”

The collaboration between Global Changemakers and HelloPumpkins, Daniel said, shows what is possible when access meets opportunity. By placing scientific tools in the hands of young learners and allowing them to test boundaries, the initiative has offered more than a lesson, it has nurtured belief, agency and possibility.