Nairobi: Eighteen-year-old Jael Aching from Loresho Secondary School and 15-year-old Blessed Kyalo from AIC Tangu Schools have been selected to participate in the World Food Prize (WFP) Global Youth Institute (GYI) conference in Iowa, USA, this October. The recognition comes as a significant achievement after their papers were chosen from 69 submissions during a two-day conference organized by the Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).
According to Kenya News Agency, the WFP challenge invites students to propose solutions addressing the urgent issues of food insecurity and agriculture. Aching, a Form Two student, presented a paper focusing on malnutrition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, examining how war has disrupted agricultural production in the region. Her proposals included an integrated nutrition and agriculture initiative, establishing community nutrition hubs, and implementing home gardening and school feeding programs to provide nutritious meals.
Aching, the second born in a family of seven, shared that her fascination with research was sparked by watching the Discovery Channel, which highlighted the impact of war on various activities. Despite her aspirations to become a lawyer, her interest in research continues to grow.
Kyallo, whose research centered on enhancing food security in Ethiopia through water harvesting and the use of cover crops, was driven by the challenges posed by unreliable rainfall in the region. With guidance from his teachers, Mr. Muendo and Madam Stacy, Kyallo developed his proposal, emphasizing the need for a sustainable water harvesting system to tackle food insecurity.
Kyallo, the second-born in a family of six, expressed excitement over his win. Although initially interested in pursuing ICT and software engineering, his success in the research competition has piqued his interest in biotechnology and genetics.
Both Aching and Kyallo are committed to representing Kenya well at the conference, which is fully sponsored by the World Food Prize Foundation. Dr. Jan Low, the 2016 World Food Prize co-laureate, will mentor the students, helping to shape their academic and professional journeys.
Kenneth Monjero, the Director of the KALRO Children Science Centre Kenya and coordinator of the program, highlighted the importance of the World Food Prize Foundation's initiative in engaging high school students with issues related to food security, climate change, and climate-smart technologies. This year, over 130 schools across Kenya participated, with workshops conducted to help teachers guide students in research and innovation.
Monjero noted the program's sustainability, with 65% of participating teachers under 30 years of age, ensuring that students from various educational backgrounds have the opportunity to present their innovations. The selected projects will be showcased at Iowa State, allowing students to connect with peers from around the world and further explore their interests in research and development.
The program has partnered with organizations such as ILRI, CABI, Concern Worldwide, and KCB Bank to provide resources and support for students. A panel of 18 scientists served as judges for the competition, contributing to the selection process.