Recently, two of us, Samana program graduates, volunteered to deliver a lecture and activity about Artificial Intelligence at the middle school in Marah al-Ghozlan in Yafia, with about 60 eighth-grade students.
Aya Mutlaq:
This past Saturday, I had an emotional and empowering experience – contributing to the Yafia Middle School and teaching students about Samana, the non-profit organization where I grew to integrate into the high-tech field, which allowed me to make a change in my life and career – from a teacher to a software tester. The meeting allowed me to give participants, with emphasis on the girls, a feeling that they can reach the high-tech field that until now was not accessible to Bedouin women.
The students responded amazingly. Their curiosity was very catching, and their enthusiasm for the topic I presented about the use of AI was inspiring. It was fascinating to see how they imagine the future and how they understand the new opportunities growing around them, especially during this complex period.
At the end of the event, I left with a sense of satisfaction that I managed to dream with the girls and boys of a new reality.
Amana Ghazala:
I recently had a very pleasant experience when I responded to a call to contribute to the school in my neighborhood, and to help the children at the school by explaining about the Samana initiative, the project where I grew, and through which I reached where I am today, and about the importance of artificial intelligence.
The students were very curious and asked many questions that showed their great interest in the subject.
It was fascinating to see how they respond to new technologies and how they imagine the future, which allows them, and especially the girls, to access employment opportunities, which reach far. At the end of the event, I felt that we had succeeded in conveying the message to give hope to many girls to invest in their studies.
Some of the feedback received, in their own words:
‘We want to come visit and work at Samana’
‘You can be in high-tech and stay in the village’
‘The world is going forward and progress is in high-tech’
‘You can work in high-tech and be a good person’
The school summed up the event:
Your participation was exceptional, and you added a lot of interest and knowledge for everyone. We were very happy with your involvement and creativity, and wish you continued success and progress!
