A group of high school students in California founded Student Makers in 2019 and obtained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status shortly afterward.
In 2022 the volunteers designed 150 airplane kits inspired by LEGO bricks, 3D-printed each component, assembled them by hand, and shipped the sets to a school in Migori, Kenya.
Since that first shipment the organization has expanded its reach to rural communities in India and additional sites in Kenya, delivering kits and live virtual lessons at no cost to recipients.
The program now reports having served more than 1,000 students across the three countries.
All curriculum development, kit fabrication, logistics, and teaching are handled by teen volunteers.
Student Makers focuses on hands-on engineering concepts that complement existing school curricula.
The organization continues to operate entirely through student leadership and donated materials.
No government or corporate funding is mentioned in the available description.
Student Makers: teen volunteers are teaching STEM across three continents
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