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Finalist
Induction
Event Guide
Congratulations!

It is with great pleasure and excitement that the GSTEP team extends its heartfelt
congratulations to you on being selected for this highly competitive and prestigious
program! This remarkable achievement is a testament to your exceptional skills,
dedication, and passion to subjects related to Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM).

Your selection for this program reflects the recognition of your immense potential and the
confidence that the GSTEP team has in your abilities. It is a well-deserved honour, and you
should be incredibly proud of yourself for standing out among numerous applicants.

Becoming a part of the GSTEP programme has not only offered you a remarkable
opportunity to further develop your skills and knowledge but also opened doors to new
possibilities and limitless potential. The programme will undoubtedly provide you with
invaluable experiences, and resources, allowing you to thrive and make significant
contributions in your community and society at large.

As you embark on this exciting journey, remember to approach it with an open mind,
curiosity, and a willingness to learn. Your selection for the GSTEP program is a stepping
stone towards greater achievements, and we have no doubt that you will make the most of
this opportunity to expand your horizons and excel.

Stay curious, enthusiastic, and determined as you immerse yourself in this program. Make
lifelong connections with your fellow finalists, engage with the experts provided, and seize
every chance to collaborate and exchange ideas. Embrace the challenges and remember
that this experience will shape you into an even more exceptional way.

We welcome you to the programme and wish you the very best as you embark on this
transformative journey. May it be filled with countless moments of learning, growth,
inspiration, and achievements. Once again, congratulations on this remarkable
accomplishment.

Constance Agyeman,

Founder, GSTEP

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Program Agenda
Arrival
7:00-9:30 Registration
Photographs Teams, Coaches,Mentors, Youth
Ambassadors
Breakfast
9:30-9:50 GSTEP 2022 throwback
Introduction
9:50 - 10:30 Opening Prayer
Welcome & Congratulatory Message
Finalist Team Selection Celebration
Message from the Ghana Education Service
(GES)
Message from Fondation Botnar
Agenda for the day
10:30 - 12:30 Carousel/Mentor Induction/Teacher sessions
10:30 - 11:15 Session 1: STEMPLOSION Group 1
An experiment with STEM materials to build the
model of the sun
Session 2: Synergy Safari: Group 2
Building an effective winning team, interactive
session with finalist teams with a team-building
activity/exercise
Session 1: STEMPLOSION Group 2
An experiment with STEM materials to build the
model of the sun

11:15 - 12:00 Session 2: Synergy Safari: Group 1

Building an effective winning team, interactive
session with finalist teams with a team-building
activity/exercise

10:30 - 12:00 Other running sessions

10:30 - 11:45 Mentor Induction Mentor
11:45 - 12:00 Mentor Coach Meet-up Mentors and Coaches
10:30 - 12:00 Teacher Session 1: GSTEP Overview, Expectations Teachers & STEM Coordinators
and Upcoming programs

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 Session 3 (Teams with Teachers and STEM coordinators)
12:00 - 13:30 Team - Mentor meet-up All groups combined
Business Plan Development All groups combined
Lunch
Session 4 : Know Your Numbers
Business Plan Development - Budgeting All teams
and Finance
14:15 - 15:00 Teacher Session 2: Finance Overview and Teachers & STEM coordinators
Budgeting
Session 5: Prototype Development
Team - Coach meet-up All groups combined
14:15 - 15:00 Prototype Development All groups combined
16:30 - 17:00 Closing Remarks and Group Pictures

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Workshop Sessions

STEMPLOSION: Fun Activities

Aim: Demonstrate Science can be fun
Objectives
• Engage students in a gamified and hands-on STEM activities
• Prepare students for the team building session

Synergy Safari with Foundervine: Building a strong team

Aim: Foster teamwork and collaborative skills among participants
Objectives
• Enhance communication and problem solving abilities within teams
• Develop a supportive and inclusive team culture
• Empower participants to leverage their diverse strengths and perspectives
• Explore effective communication techniques for product team interactions
• Develop problem solving strategies as a team
• Promote trust, respect and inclusivity within teams
• Identify and utilize individual and collective strengths to achieve common goals

Teacher Info Session

Aim: Introduce the 2023 GSTEP programme and expectations from Team Leads
Objectives
• Support teachers to understand the challenge prize process
• Provide teachers with communication tools
• Provide guidance on resources and support available to teams during the programme

Mentor - Team Meet Up

Aim: Introduce teams and teachers to the mentorship programme
Objectives:
• Introduce teams to their mentors
• Explain the support to be provided during the mentorship programme

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Understanding your numbers: Finance & Budgeting
Aim: Help students understand financial considerations in the development of their
prototype
Objectives
• Help teams to understand the revenue and cost implications in prototype development
• Support teams to understand how to develop a budget

Prototype Development
Aim: Introduce students to prototype development
Objectives
• Help students understand the ideation process for their projects

Mentor Induction
Aim: Introduce mentors to their scope of work for the mentorship programme
Objectives
• Provide mentors with knowledge and resources to enable them be efficient and
effective
• Help mentors understand their responsibilities and obligations during the programme

Agenda
• Introduction to MEST and mentoring
• Business plan & Q&A
• Communicating with MEST

Mentor - Coach Meet Up

Aim: Introduce coaches to mentors
Objectives
• Enhance bonding and collective responsibility of coaches and mentors towards their
teams

Agenda
• Find your coach activity
• Bingo
• My superpower activity
• Bonding / Interaction

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GSTEP Consortium

DreamOval Foundation is a nonprofit that focuses improving

quality of education through science, technology,
mathematics and engineering. The DreamOval team is the
lead implementer of the GSTEP programme. The Foundation
engages schools through Ghana Education Service (GES),
coordinates all stakeholders for the GSTEP programme and
supervises the implementation of the programme.

Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) is an

Africa-wide organization that provides entrepreneurs software
development and business with training and support to grow.
MEST provides mentoring support as well as business
development assistance to finalists.

Challenge Works is a social enterprise that designs and runs

challenge prizes to help solve pressing problems that lack
solutions. Challenge Works manages the organisation of the
Challenge to ensure the successful implementation of the
GSTEP program.

DEXT Technology is a Ghanaian firm that produces science

resources and equipments for practical learning. DEXT
provides the materials needed for the development of
prototypes by finalists as well as technical coaches for
finalists.

Foundervine is an international organization that helps

businesses set up and grow through training. Foundervine
manages the Youth Steering Group who will be providing
support to finalists and coordinate activities during GSTEP
events.

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 2023 Timeline

Application Stage JAN - APRIL 2023

Teams of 4-6 JHS
students in Greater
Accra, Eastern & Ashanti
regions applied to
participate in the
Challenge

MAY Assessment Stage

A team of independent
assessors & expert judges
select finalist teams

Finalist Announcement JUNE 2023

Selected finalists were
informed

JULY - NOVEMBER 2023 Assessment Stage

Finalists will be supported
to develop their
prototype and business
plan with the help of
expert mentors and
coaches

They will also participate

in a industry visits and
media engagements

Pitching & Judging NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2023

Stage
Finalists will pitch their
ideas to a panel of expert
judges

JANUARY 2024 Awards & Exhibition

Finalists will present their
prototypes to the general
public and winners of the
Challenge will be
announced

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Partners

The GSTEP programme is supported by institutions and organisations that recognise the
importance of STEM in fostering innovation, economic growth, and social development by
working to enhance the quality of STEM education and inspire young Ghanaians to pursue
careers in these fields.

These institutions are playing a crucial role in supporting the drive for STEM education by
integrating STEM into the curriculum, establishing dedicated departments and centers,
and engaging in outreach activities, fostering a culture of innovation, scientific inquiry, and
technological advancement. With the collective efforts of educational institutions,
governmental bodies, and private organisations GSTEP is laying a strong foundation for
future generations to excel in STEM fields and contribute to national development.

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Fun Activity

Let's create
a Balloon
Rocket!
Materials needed:
1. String or fishing line 4. Drinking straw
2. Two chairs or sturdy objects to act as anchors 5. Tape
3. Balloon 6. Scissors

Instructions:

1. Set up the two chairs or anchor points about 10 feet apart. Make sure they are stable and
secure.
2. Cut a long piece of string or fishing line and tie it securely to the two anchor points.
3. Inflate the balloon and then release the air to let it deflate partially. This will make it
easier to attach to the straw.
4. Cut a small section of the straw, approximately 2 inches long.
5. Attach the straw to the balloon by taping it to the balloon's opening. Make sure it is
secure.
6. Thread the string or fishing line through the straw, allowing the balloon to slide freely
along the string.
7. Make sure the string is taut and straight between the two anchor points.
8. Now, it's time for launch! Hold one end of the string and pull the balloon to the other end,
stretching it along the string.
9. Let go of the balloon and watch it zoom across the string like a rocket!

This activity combines elements of physics and engineering, allowing students to explore
concepts such as motion, forces, and aerodynamics in a fun and interactive way. Have fun
experimenting and learning with your balloon rocket!

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 Contact the GSTEP Challenge
Email: challenge@gstep.org | Website: www.gstep.org.gh | Tel: 0595 703 311

Ghana Science & Tech Explorer Prize gstep_gh Ghana Science & Tech Explorer Prize