Teaching AI/ML in Chokor, Accra, Ghana

Partnering with BASICS International

Over the past couple of days I have had the opportunity to teach some of the children of Chokor through a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Brothers And Sisters In Christ Serving (B.A.S.I.C.S INTERNATIONAL). Chorkor is a fishing village and a neighborhood in the Accra Metropolis district, a district in the Greater Accra Region of #Ghana, Africa. B.A.S.I.C.S International is a faith‑based not‑for‑profit located in Ghana, West Africa, founded by Patricia Wilkins in 2000 and BASICS provides education and resources to impoverished communities in Ghana.

Teaching AI/ML with DeepRacer

This partnership with AWS presented the opportunity for me to teach some of the children Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML). Teaching a concept without application is almost like “faith without works”; so we taught AI/ML while utilizing AWS DeepRacer Student. AWS DeepRacer Student unlocks the time, complexity, and costs needed to start learning and applying ML for students by leveraging the AWS DeepRacer platform. The students in the program have been very bright and smart. They caught onto the material very quickly so far and have the potential to do amazing things. It’s only been a couple days and it has already been a rewarding experience. Just being on the “Mother Continent,” due to Africa being the oldest inhabited continent on Earth, is moving enough, but being able to experience the joy, passion, dancing, and songs of the people of Ghana has been a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience for me.

Serving with Fellow Builders

I’ve also had the pleasure of being out here with other AWS Builders and colleagues. A very special shout‑out to Shyla Martinez, Andrea Dempsey, Aisha Lawrey, Kellon Louis Jones, Khayla Williams, Martina N, Greg Mayo, Samuel A, Lauren Lewis, Lauren Guerrido (CSM, CSPO), George Opulence Boakye, and Francis Asante. I’m only halfway through my time with the program and the impact I've made as well as the impact I've received from the students and my colleagues has been priceless.