Due to delays caused by COVID-19, the IDP Children’s Astronomy project was officially launched in February 2021. The team setup a solar powered learning hub which is a critical part of the project. This involved refurbishing an old shipping container and installing the solar panels, computer, smart tv, charging ports and others.
On the day of project launch, children in the IDP camp spent time with counsellors who evaluated them (CBT Assessments). It was followed by several inspirational talks from government representatives and members of Astronomers Without Borders Nigeria. The children used the learning hub and received souvenirs. The day ended with star gazing.
Utilizing data gathering & analysis, the project team noticed a considerable interest in astronomy and improvement of the state of the mental health of the children.