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Drones and 3D pens: Fun workshops level the playing field for lower-income kids
My Digital Bootcamp aims to equip children from lower-income families with digital skills like coding and robotics through hands-on sessions
UOB volunteer Vikrant Sharma (left) guiding students from Sengkang Green Primary School in operating mini drones at the half-day workshop held after school.
PHOTO: THARM SOOK WAI
Kareyst Lin, Brand Newsroom
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Rayqal, 10, held his breath as his mini drone lifted off the ground.
It soared towards the high ceiling of Sengkang Green Primary School’s indoor sports hall.
Around him, his friends cheered and gasped, eager to get their turn piloting their drones under the guidance of corporate volunteers from UOB.
Then – with a thud – Rayqal’s drone nosedived and crashed. “It was easy to fly (the drone) up,” the Primary 3 pupil said, his eyes still shining with excitement. “I can fly quite high and quite far, but landing (it properly) was hard.”
It was Rayqal’s first time flying a drone. This exciting after-school activity was a pleasant change from his routine of lessons, homework and co-curricular activities.
He was one of 1,000 students taking part in the fourth run of My Digital Bootcamp, which began in January. The programme aims to equip children from lower-income families with digital skills – like coding, robotics and digital art – through hands-on sessions.
My Digital Bootcamp is organised by Central Singapore Community Development Council (Central Singapore CDC) and sponsored by UOB.
The programme is held as a two full-day or four half-day bootcamp for students across 25 primary schools, grassroots organisations and community groups in the Central Singapore district.
Tech meets imagination
The drone-flying session on Jan 16 was the second of four half-day workshops for 60 students at Sengkang Green Primary School. It was held in the afternoon, after the school day ended.
In the first session the week before, the students created digital art using 3D pens. These tools function like glue guns, melting plastic filament to let users trace and lift their creations off the surface.
My Digital Bootcamp aims to equip children from lower-income families with digital skills such as coding, robotics, and digital art. PHOTO: THARM SOOK WAI
It was more than a creative exercise. Students were given a mission: Use the 3D pen to create an object that can help defeat a hacker.
Rayqal’s solution? A “poison box”, which he shaded in green and black.
“It (shoots out poison to) make the hacker faint, so we can take back (access to) the computer he’s been hacking,” he explains.
In the current season of My Digital Bootcamp, students follow one of two interactive storylines: “The Digital Defenders” or “Amazing Tech Titans”, said Mr Leonard Tan, senior vice-president and head of group corporate social responsibility at UOB.
These storylines engage them to solve real-world challenges of today – such as online safety – using digital means or solutions, added Mr Tan, 52.
Why does cyber security matter? Rayqal’s simple answer: “So that (hackers) don’t get my information.”
While Rayqal prefers the thrill of flying drones, his classmate Qairina said the digital art session was her favourite so far.
“I like drawing,” the 10-year-old says, sharing how she often sketches at home with her four younger siblings, aged between four and seven.
Bridging the digital divide
My Digital Bootcamp provides “free, accessible, skills-based workshops to expose children (of all backgrounds) to digital skills of the future”, says Ms Denise Phua, mayor of Central Singapore District.
Priority is given to children from lower income households, she adds.
My Digital Bootcamp is an initiative under the Central Singapore CDC’s SkillsFuture Junior movement.
It complements the national SkillsFuture efforts which aims to promote lifelong learning, says Ms Phua, 66.
“Children from lower-income families often lack access to extra-curricular education in digital skills,” she explains. This can be due to factors like limited access to technology at home, lack of exposure to advanced digital concepts, and fewer opportunities for hands-on learning and enrichment activities.
“(These challenges) can put them at a disadvantage in our increasingly digital world,” says Ms Phua, adding that it’s crucial to provide opportunities to level the playing field.
Over the last five years, My Digital Bootcamp has benefited more than 3,500 children. This number is set to exceed 4,500 with the completion of its fourth run.
Every student will also receive a digital-making kit containing tools such as a micro:bit set with sensors, 3D pen, a buildable remote control plywood tank and coding software. They can then continue honing their skills at home, Ms Phua shared.
My Digital Bootcamp is part of UOB My Digital Space, the bank’s flagship regional education programme, says Mr Leonard Tan, senior vice-president and head of group corporate social responsibility at UOB.
Launched in 2020, UOB My Digital Space aims to bridge the digital divide for children with special needs and those from lower-income families.
The programme spans seven markets: Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Through workshops and digital tools including laptops, UOB My Digital Space provides these kids with learning opportunities that can prepare them for a digital future, says Mr Tan. In 2024, the programme benefited close to 15,000 children across the region.
Empowering kids
In a classroom, the students huddled into small teams of five – and stood eagerly behind a starting line marked by broomsticks.
They had just spent the past hour practising in the indoor sports hall. Now, it was time to put their skills to the test in a mini drone race.
Their task: Each team sends a pilot to race their drones across the breadth of the classroom.
Among their cheerleaders was Mr Vikrant Sharma, a UOB volunteer and the bank’s senior vice-president of Insights and Transformation, Group Strategic Communications and Brand.
To make the session more interactive, Mr Sharma and other UOB volunteers had turned it into a friendly competition.
Students putting their newly acquired drone flying skills to the test with a friendly competition. PHOTO: THARM SOOK WAI
“Some of them were a bit nervous and looked unsure (initially),” says Mr Sharma, 41, “but a bit of guidance and cheering from their teammates helped them gain confidence.”
Beyond the fun, “the Digital Bootcamp is a great (way) to expose the (lower-income) kids to various technologies so they can explore their interests,” he says.
“(For some), their families may not be able to (provide) these learning opportunities due to limited financial resources.”
With the completion of its fourth run, My Digital Bootcamp is set to benefit more than 4,500 children. PHOTO: THARM SOOK WAI
Since joining the bank in 2018, Mr Sharma has volunteered for more than five initiatives, including the Fresh gRoceries for Every Student’s Home (Fresh) programme
Fresh is organised by local charity Children’s Wishing Well and supported by UOB.
UOB’s partnership is crucial to the success of My Digital Bootcamp, says Ms Denise Phua, mayor of Central Singapore District.
“(The bank’s) donation of $2 million (to the programme) and passionate volunteers since 2019 has benefitted over 3,500 children from lower-income families,” she adds.
As the workshop wrapped up, the room continued to buzz with excitement. Students were sharing their experiences and exchanging tips on how to master drone controls.
“(That was) super fun!” exclaims Rayqal, with a grin.
This is the third of a six-part series titled “Right by you”, in partnership with
“ Right by you
