Youth Minister attends closing ceremony of Fab Lab Bahrain programme

Manama, Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, attended the closing ceremony of the Fab Lab Bahrain programme, which was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Fab Lab Bahrain, Tamkeen, the US Embassy in Bahrain, the Bahrain Science Centre (BSC) for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB). Tawfiqi reaffirmed Bahrain's commitment to supporting young people across all sectors, ensuring they have the necessary resources to develop their ideas in an increasingly competitive scientific and technological environment. She highlighted that the Ministry of Youth Affairs, in collaboration with its strategic partners, has launched modern programmes focused on knowledge, research, and scientific development. The minister described Fab Lab Bahrain as an important platform for Bahraini youth to showcase their creativity and ideas, aligning with the ministry's plan to support young innovators. The programme aims to enhance their skills and provide opportunities to learn from global best practices in innovation, manufacturing, and modern technology. Tawfiqi toured an exhibition featuring participants' projects and innovations and honoured the programme's winners and its supporting partners. The Fab Lab Bahrain programme included three key initiatives. The Spark programme, organised in collaboration with the US Embassy in Bahrain, focused on training 400 students aged 8-14 in electronics, programming, and educational kits. Over 20 trainers and volunteers from the Fab Lab alumni network led the workshops, offering hands-on training in communities across Bahrain. The Fab Academy, developed with Tamkeen, provided intensive hands-on learning, offering 150 young participants the chance to enhance their digital fabrication and rapid prototyping skills through 60 projects. This programme, created by the Fab Foundation, an initiative linked to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), helped participants build a diverse portfolio of technical skills. The TechStride initiative, organised in partnership with the National Bank of Bahrain, aimed to equip 60 Bahraini students with essential skills in emerging technologies, including industrial robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and game design. The initiative involved 20 practical projects designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, and innovation among participants. Source: Bahrain News Agency