One  afternoon in Konongo Odumase, a small town in the Ashanti Region, children in bright GSTEP shirts walked proudly through the town, carrying the hopes of an entire community.

It all began in a classroom, where a group of Junior High School students from Koss Model ‘B’ School in the Asante Akim Central District  dared to think differently. They were not content to let science remain locked in their textbooks. Instead, they asked themselves how they could use STEM to solve problems in their town. That question set them on a journey that got the backing of their entire community.

For a long time, in most schools across Ghana, practical science remained confined to the labs. Many students could only grasp it in abstract terms, making science feel more like fiction. Today, GSTEP is changing that narrative. Science is now being appreciated not only in the classroom but in local communities as well.

Meet Genius Geeks, a team on a mission to enhance road safety in their community through practical STEM solutions.

Initially, the community’s response was doubtful. But doubt turned into pride when, at the centre of the palace, Dr. Nana Kofi Antwi II, Odumase Chief of the Nifa Division of Asante Juaben, was filled with hope of a better future.

“STEM is where talent can be tapped, especially for children who are at the age of 13 to 15, can use it as a catalyst to bring change to our various communities,” he said. “I recommend other chiefs to support the basic schools in their communities for the GSTEP challenge, just as the Odumase Elders, Nana Hemaa, and myself are supporting the team from where they began up to where they are now. We hope they will move on to the next step.”

The turning point was when it caught the attention of the local firefighters in Odumase.

Their prototype, designed to tackle challenges faced by the Ghana National Fire Service, addressed one of the crucial problems faced by the firefighters. The words of Divisional Officer Joe Bryden Do II, Municipal Fire Commander for Ashanti Akyem North, South, and Central, carried the weight of a long-term solution.

“The first time I heard of what they were putting across, it amazed me,” he said. “This is what we need because it is coming in to solve a systemic problem that has been a canker. Vehicular fires have been a big issue for us. Usually, as the Fire Service attends to these fires, delays in reporting and detection mean we cannot salvage much by the time we arrive. But with this technology, I believe it will enhance our response time and the value of salvage. It will help us save more vehicles, more property and, most importantly, human lives.”

According to the parents, they’ve noticed a change in their kids: they have moved from talking about exams only to actually being excited about new ideas, solutions, and STEM goals they are eager to chase.

“I strongly recommend the GSTEP Challenge to other parents, looking at how it is able to elicit the critical thinking of our young ones to unlock the teaching challenges and problems we face in our community. If these learners are given the opportunity to participate, the returns will come back to the communities.”

For the young innovators, those words were validation that their creativity had real-world impact. Their project was no longer about winning the GSTEP challenge but a solution recognized by the very people it aimed to support.

What made this journey remarkable was the way the town rallied behind the team, backed by the municipal assembly. For the team, believing in themselves was easier because their community first believed in them. 

Today, Konongo Odumase is part of the GSTEP story.