Mapiko Athu puts science on TV
November 2015 - October 2018
Malawi
Let’s enjoy science: the television show Mapiko Athu aimed to use everyday situations to teach science to kids in Malawi.
Mapiko Athu puts science on TV
November 2015 - October 2018
Malawi
Over the past few years, Malawian children have been lagging behind in terms of their performance in science, due to a significant shortage of qualified teachers and a lack of laboratory equipment. Television has the power to reach many children in Malawi, to spark their interest and motivate them to learn. In collaboration with Rei Foundation and PICO Factory Japan, Timveni produced a new science television program on science called Mapiko athu (our wings), beginning with 13 pilot episodes set in five primary schools around Lilongwe.
Aimed at kids living in Malawi from 6 to 14 years old, each episode had a different scientific theme. Audiences were engaged by the accessible and fun experiments that used locally available materials, explained in the Chewa language.
Local kids taking part in the filming of an episode.
Physics explained using a see-saw: a quintessential example of the forces of gravity.
Lilongwe children were recruited to take part in episode production.
Episodes featured props and activities that viewers would be able to recreate themselves.
