African Maths Initiative

What happens when you mix a famous unsolved math puzzle with the brilliant young minds at St. Mary's Fubuye Comprehensive School?



During the mathscamp, learners dove into the fascinating world of the Collatz Conjecture. Instead of just reading about math, they experienced it firsthand, testing numbers, drawing sequence trees, and even having a friendly competition to see who could find the longest number chain!



It was so inspiring to see their faces light up with curiosity and joy as they collaborated, problem-solved, and discovered that mathematics is full of wonderful mysteries waiting to be explored.



A huge shoutout to the amazing facilitators and learners at St. Mary's Fubuye Primary for showing us that no problem is too big when we tackle it together! Let's keep making math fun, engaging, and accessible for every child.

We are gearing up for the Math Camp at St. Mary’s Fubuye Comprehensive School, Kakamega — happening 30 March to 3 April!

Our team is preparing exciting sessions designed to spark curiosity and inspire learners to see the future through mathematics and STEM careers.

Don’t miss out—register for the Annual Global Kangaroo Mathematics Competition and be part of the challenge!

https://lnkd.in/d3sw7HsV

Last week, I visited Shianda Primary School in Kakamega. I observed a seven-year-old girl stand confidently in front of her Grade 2 classroom, pointing to the colorful number chart on the Happy Classroom wall. Her classmates sat on their desks, eyes bright with attention as she led them through a counting exercise from 1 to 100.

"Let's count by tens!" she announced with the enthusiasm only a child can bring. "Ten, twenty, thirty..." Her voice rises and falls with natural rhythm as twenty little voices join in, following her lead with pure joy.

When she explained counting patterns, she didn't use complex educational terms. She said things like "It's like jumping on stones across a river - you skip the same number each time!" Her classmates understood immediately because she thinks like they do.

This isn't just a cute classroom moment. This is peer learning in action, and it's one of the most powerful teaching tools we often overlook.

Today we close the curtains on the Nyarongi Maths Camp — and with it, two intense weeks of learning, discovery, and joy across Kakamega County and Homa Bay County.

From Kongoni to Nyarongi, students have stretched their minds through puzzles, games, data science, robotics, probability, and mathematical thinking. They’ve built confidence, collaborated, asked questions, explained their reasoning, and most importantly — experienced maths as something alive, playful, and full of possibility.

As students head back to their schools, they carry with them new skills and renewed confidence in their ability to think critically, solve problems, and embrace mathematics for life.

Here’s to many more camps, many more learners, and a growing community that sees maths not as a barrier — but as a bridge.

The photos say it all: students deep in thought, working side by side, explaining their ideas, and laughing together as they solve puzzles and play games.

From the very start, the camp is more than just about maths — it’s about teamwork, creativity, and learning to think in new ways. Whether it’s cracking a tricky puzzle, strategizing in a game, or sharing their reasoning with peers, the students are discovering that maths is everywhere — and it can be exciting, social, and fun.

We can’t wait to see how their confidence grows as the week unfolds.

Day 1 of the 3rd Nyarongi Community Maths Camp (2025)!

What began as a small dream in 2022 to bridge the digital divide and spark a love for problem-solving has now become a consistent movement in Nyarongi. From the very first camp, the journey has been about building confidence in maths, strengthening logical reasoning, and growing critical thinking.

The results so far speak for themselves:

* Learners reported a renewed confidence in approaching mathematics and problem solving.
* Parents noted positive attitude shifts towards maths after the camps.
* Learners who were initially shy began collaborating, presenting solutions, and even mentoring their peers.
* Access to digital tools introduced many to computers for the first time — proving that technology can be a gateway to both creativity and mathematical discovery.
* Equal participation of boys and girls has remained a key principle, breaking barriers and ensuring inclusivity.

This year, we carry forward the same spirit — showing that mathematics is not just formulas to memorize, but a powerful tool for exploration, creativity, and lifelong learning.

We’re excited for the days ahead...follow along as we continue to grow this story together.

Today marks day 4 of the Maths Camp at Kongoni Community Library, full of activity and learning.

“I enjoyed the chessboard and wheat grain puzzle for it helped me think big,” - Student's Journal

In some of the pictures attached:

* Students are simulating binomial distribution and Pascal’s Triangle.

* Students telling a story using data in CODAP

* Students learning to play and playing to learn

* Students have also trained a model using their own survey responses to predict their enjoyment of puzzles and how nervous maths makes them.

It’s been a week where maths is experienced, not just studied — and every activity is helping students think, connect, and discover in new ways.

We’re thrilled to be part of the conversation shaping the future of education in Kenya!

We’re thrilled to be part of the conversation shaping the future of education in Kenya!

Catch Samuel Okoth, representing African Maths Initiative (AMI), as he leads a powerful Teachers’ Town Hall session at the Western Kenya EdTech Summit, themed:
“Empowering the Educators as Innovators in EdTech”

This session isn't a panel or lecture—it’s a bold, teacher-led space for honest dialogue, shared challenges, and collaborative solutions. With over 5 years of experience in running impactful EdTech professional development across Western Kenya, Samuel guides educators in exploring how we can rethink CPD to serve real classrooms and real learners.

Let’s co-create what continuous, contextual, and equitable teacher support should look like in a tech-enabled world.