Schools Robotics program wins Canon prize
A program to promote STEM education for children took out the Canon Oceania 2019 Canon Grants Program this year.
Elonera Montessori Robotics (NSW) is passionate about promoting STEM education and opportunities with a focus on among groups with a history of under-representation or marginalisation and won $5000.
The Grant will provide equipment that facilitates a series of free, hands-on robotics sessions for children and young adults who are refugees and/or living with disability.
After the public cast more than 5000 votes for 2019 finalists across the Oceania region, Canon now awards over $30,000 worth of grants to seven projects in Australia and New Zealand. The Grants include both equipment and funding. In the 13 years since the program launched, Canon has offered almost $400,000 in grants to over 75 schools and not-for-profit groups to help them maximise their impact on the environment, education and society.
Australia’s four winning projects help disadvantaged women find work, protect imperilled species and conserve healthy ecosystems, and help community members better understand nutritious food.
Previous Grant winners have gone on to make positive changes via their projects: reducing plastic pollution from coastal waterways and beaches, helping students understand the impact of species decline and building the photography and life-skills of young children. The 2018 Community winner, Big Fat Smile, developed a program delivered through its after-school clubs that has provided photography lessons to over 100 children — you can see the impact of the program here.
“At Canon, we’re passionate about Kyosei, which means ‘living and working together for the common good’, and it’s why we’re so proud to support these organisations and provide them with the tools they need to further their causes. We can’t wait to see how this year’s winners use their Grants to truly make a positive difference to their communities and our environment.”
More information: www.canon.com.au/grants