Sierra Leone: Teen Kelvin Doe Builds Tech From Scrap

thenry · 13-03-2013, 01:26

Quote:

A West African science prodigy inspired scientists from top tier U.S. universities by transforming trash into technological solutions to empower his community – and he is only 16.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...#ixzz2NNJArR00

Quote:

Self-taught African Teen Wows M.I.T.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOLOLrUBRBY

**Maggy** · 13-03-2013, 10:42

Puts most of our whiny over indulged teenagers to shame.Our education system is wasted on them and teaching some of them is very hard work.They take far too much for granted.

Sometimes I would like to have the power to take some of them and put them in the place of 3rd world children denied an education.

BenMcr · 13-03-2013, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Puts most of our whiny over indulged teenagers to shame.Our education system is wasted on them and teaching some of them is very hard work.They take far too much for granted.

Sometimes I would like to have the power to take some of them and put them in the place of 3rd world children denied an education.

To be fair, if a UK teen did what he is, it wouldn't make the news.

And the UK has had our own 'wow teens' in the past

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16306742

Quote:

But 16-year-old South Londoner Nick D'Aloisio's excuse is better than most - he has been busy developing an app which has made international headlines and attracted a big investment from a Hong Kong-based billionaire.

**Maggy** · 13-03-2013, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

To be fair, if a UK teen did what he is, it wouldn't make the news.

And the UK has had our own 'wow teens' in the past

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16306742

I disagree heartily..We would make much of a child with this child's talents.I know this as an educator.Remember I've worked with teenagers for nearly 40 years as an educator.I'm speaking from experience about spoilt over indulged teenagers who don't give a toss about the free education they receive.

BenMcr · 13-03-2013, 13:20

I'm not saying that a school or local community may not make much of a child like that. I'm saying it wouldn't make the global press

When I was at school, I know there were quite a few kids that could quite easily have done (and some did) build such things. Obviously access to materials was easier, but that's geographical circumstance, not intelligence.

**Maggy** · 13-03-2013, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

I'm not saying that a school or local community may not make much of a child like that. I'm saying it wouldn't make the global press

When I was at school, I know there were quite a few kids that could quite easily have done (and some did) build such things. Obviously access to materials was easier, but that's geographical circumstance, not intelligence.

I never said that we didn't have such teens.What I'm saying is that the vast majority wouldn't even dream of doing what he does because they demand 'new' or the latest of everything and get it.They would be aghast at reusing old wiring and bits of thrown away technology.They are just plain spoilt.They don't even respect the education that they do get.