What happens when 30 brilliant young minds are handed a challenge, a box of STEM tools, and just 2 hours on the clock? Pure innovation. That’s exactly what went down at the ALX × STEMAIDE Robotics Hackathon on June 21, 2025 a high-energy day of building, bonding, and mind-blowing ideas!

Among the standout projects, one quietly stole the hearts of judges and participants alike: a Smart Pet Feeder designed and built entirely by a group of first-time STEM learners.

🧠 From Curiosity to Creation

The team behind the Smart Pet Feeder wasn’t made up of robotics experts. In fact, most of them had never touched a circuit board before this challenge. But with a spark of creativity, a STEMAIDE Kit in hand, and the right mentorship, they built a working prototype that wowed everyone in the room.

This wasn’t just a timer feeding system. Their solution had:

  • A motion sensor to detect when a pet is nearby

  • A sound recognition feature to identify the pet’s unique bark or meow

  • Low-feed alerts to remind owners when the food runs out

  • All powered by a microcontroller straight from the STEMAIDE Kit

Simple? Maybe. Genius? Absolutely.

💡 Why This Matters

In Ghana and across Africa we talk a lot about the future of work, tech-readiness, and digital innovation. But what does it actually look like?

It looks like this. Young people solving real problems with real tools. Using technology not for grades, but for impact.

The Smart Pet Feeder is more than a hackathon project it’s proof that when you hand young people the right tools and a challenge that matters, they’ll build the future right in front of you.

🔧 Powered by STEMAIDE Kits: The Tools That Make Innovation Possible

At the heart of this story is the STEMAIDE Kit a hands-on, plug-and-build STEM tool designed for students, schools, and curious minds of all levels.

It empowers young Africans to:

  • Learn by doing

  • Explore electronics, robotics, and programming

  • Build solutions to everyday problems

  • Gain practical skills that open doors to tech careers

From homes to hackathons, the STEMAIDE Kit is shaping the next generation of African inventors.

The Future is Already Here And It’s Built by Young Geniuses

This one project crafted in just 2 hours by first-timers is a small glimpse into a much larger movement: one where African youth are not waiting for opportunities, they’re creating them.

And STEMAIDE AFRICA is proud to be right at the center of this transformation.

Want to build something too? Check out our official STEM Kits store and start building your own smart world today.