PARI’s Global Development and Innovation begins $1.6M engineers program in Kenya

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue Applied Research Institute’s Global Development and Innovation division announces the start of a four-year, $1.6 million project called Jenga Engineers for Life, a collaboration with the Tumaini Innovation Center, a community-based organization in Eldoret, Kenya.

The Jenga project has been an eight-year collaboration between Purdue and Tumaini and is the very first award PARI-GDI will manage via Purdue. Funding comes through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad initiative.

The project will create an engineering innovation campus to accommodate about 300 Kenyan youths annually. It will include construction of solar-powered classrooms; a demonstration, training and virtual exchange space; dormitory and commons buildings; and workshops equipped for hands-on learning and manufacturing of engineering innovations.

From the Jenga project founding in 2015, Tumaini has sought to harness innovative, engineering-based teaching to transform the lives of Kenya’s street youth.

“I will call it a miracle, a very small initial investment of people and spirit in 10 years has grown to this,” said George Chiu, Purdue’s assistant dean for global engineering programs and partnerships, speaking at the project’s inauguration during Tumaini’s first graduation ceremony in June. Purdue’s Jennifer DeBoer, PARI-GDI director of practice for youth education, has led the effort as Jenga Engineers’ project director.

Tumaini has grown from eight to almost 100 students and recently expanded to accommodate both genders as well as provide day care for the children of students. It currently offers certification in five technical programs: electrical installation, motor vehicle technology, welding and fabrication, hair dressing and beauty therapy, and food and beverage technology.

USAID administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian aid in more than 80 countries worldwide. American Schools and Hospitals Abroad initiative assists overseas schools, libraries, hospitals and centers of excellence to highlight American ideas and practices, to provide concrete illustrations of the generosity of the American people, to further U.S. government public diplomacy and to catalyze collaboration between U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries.