ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2023 - 27

challenges, " says Nick Fadugba,
CEO of African Aviation Services,
ISTAT Foundation trustee and Grants
Committee member. " Two immediate
objectives include enhancing
connectivity within the region and
boosting cross-border business,
both of which typically require
air transportation. "
Organizations such as the ISTAT
Foundation play an essential role in
raising community awareness and
promoting the socioeconomic benefits
of aviation. " The Foundation's Grants
Program has made a targeted effort
to expand its support of not-forprofit,
nongovernmental organizations
within Africa. We are focused and
determined to build on recent success
and relationships in order to expand
support to all regions of the continent, "
says Tracey O'Brien, ISTAT Foundation
trustee and Grants Committee chair.
To this end, nearly US$95,000 in
scholarships, grants and humanitarian
aid was provided to students and
organizations within Africa in 2022, a
record-breaking year.
African Leaders in
Aviation's Workshop
In 2022, the Foundation supported
three African organizations: Girls Fly
Programme Africa (GFPA), Wonders
of Aviation and ALA. The Foundationawarded
funds enabled each to host
workshops aimed at expanding students'
knowledge of aviation and encouraging
their interest in pursuing aviation
careers. These organizations were each
founded in South Africa, with GFPA
and Wonders of Aviation focusing their
support within the country. ALA hosts
workshops across the African continent.
ALA was founded in 2020 by two
female aviation enthusiasts, Nyasha
Manyika and Khodani Davhana,
with the mission to influence, raise
and strengthen young African
students' interest in aviation,
science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (Avi-STEM).
RIGHT:
ALA camp
directors and
volunteer leaders,
including Christine
Rovelli, Tracey
O'Brien, Megan
King, Katie Minarik,
Philip Mafunga and
Adam Kee.
LEFT:
ISTAT scholarship
recipient Philip
Mafunga presenting
to ALA camp
participants.
" We want African youth to take ownership of
their future from an early stage through active
participation. The Avi-STEM workshops lay the foundation
for them to find solutions for today and the future. "
" We want African youth to take
ownership of their future from an early
stage through active participation, "
Manyika says. " The Avi-STEM
workshops lay the foundation for
them to find solutions for today and
the future. "
ALA hosted its ISTAT-funded AviSTEM
workshop in September 2022.
Foundation leadership represented by
Christine Rovelli (deputy treasurer),
Tracey O'Brien (trustee and Grants
Committee chair) and Megan King
(executive director) traveled to Nairobi
on a self-funded trip with three former
Foundation scholarship recipients -
Katie Minarik (Grants Committee
member), Philip Mafunga and Adam
Kee - to participate in the event.
The four-day workshop attracted
more than 200 Nairobi students aged
10-18. The event included African
speakers from Emirates, Kenya Airways
and Precision Aerial, a consultancy
focused on drone applications, who
shared their experiences in the industry.
Breakout sessions included leaders
from Girl Up Kenya, We Were Once
* SPR I NG 2023 * 27
ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2023

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