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The Tech in Kenya
Scenario
Survive the Storm | Epuka Upepo Mkali
Sometimes, strong winds and heavy rain can suddenly hit a town or village. When this happened in Kisumu County, Kenya, roofs flew off classrooms, and homes and buildings were damaged. People had to find safe places to stay until the weather got better. This made it hard for students to learn and for families to feel safe, showing how important it is for buildings to be strong enough to survive bad weather. Imagine strong winds, like those in Kisumu, may come to your community. How could you protect your town?
What structure would you build to protect this “town” from the wind?
The Challenge
Use locally available materials around you (preferably recyclable and not store bought) to build, test, and present a small, lightweight structure that will protect the buildings in a town from strong winds.
You can’t build a whole town! So you will use scale models instead. Buildings = stacks of paper cubes
Register for the 2026 Tech Challenge
Activities and Lesson Plans
Use these lesson plans and activities to start preparing for the challenge!
Reading the Rules
30 minutes
Use these fun icebreakers to understand the complex details of the criteria and constraints for The Tech Challenge.
Target timeline: January-April
New!
Brainstorming Ideas
Two 60 minute sessions
Develop brainstorming and research skills which can be applied to any problem.
Target timeline: January-April
Mini Challenges
8 activities
These short engineering challenges are a fun way to practice prototyping.
Target timeline: Any time!
Shipwreck Shelters
60 minutes
Build within a time limit using limited materials.
Target timeline: January-April
Shelter in a Storm
30 minutes
Design and build a bird home that is strong and sturdy, even when it’s windy!
Target timeline: January-April
Wildfire Warning
30 minutes
Design a DIY anemometer, a wind detection device to measure the strength and direction of high winds.
Target timeline: January-April
Engineering Journals
60 minutes
Document ideas, observations, and reflections through diagrams and explanatory text.
Target timeline: January-April
Intergalactic Interview
Two 60-minute sessions
Make design considerations based on concepts of potential and kinetic energy.
Target timeline: January-April
Check out our past Tech Challenges here!
The Tech Challenge Kenya
The success of this program can be seen in the growing participation in The Tech Challenge Kenya, modeled after our signature San Jose event that began in 1986.
2023: 750 students participated
2024: 2,700 students participated
2025: More than 4,800 students from hundreds of schools joined showcases in Kisumu and Nakuru
Last year, students were challenged to design devices, using only recycled materials, that could survive a three-meter drop and deliver a coin up a ramp. The challenge was inspired by a real issue: delivering food and supplies to rural communities.
The results were inspiring. Deaf students presented their ideas in sign language. Rural learners engineered creative prototypes from bottles, boxes, and string. Every student demonstrated persistence, creativity, and teamwork.
About Us
Shital Patel
Director of Global Partnerships
spatel@thetech.org
Sherry Burch
Senior Director Learning Products
sburch@thetech.org
Corporate Partners and Sponsors
Winfred Njeri (Kenya/EMEA)
The Tech Challenge Corporate & Government Liaison
wnjeri@thetech.org
Sean Gallagher
Senior Director of Corporate Relations
sgallagher@thetech.org
Volunteer Opportunities
and Tech Challenge Questions