By Zainab 

Hey peeps! My name is Zainab aka McMotherboard. I am a 16.8-years-old designer, activist, coder, rebel, daughter, writer, thought provoker, leader, technology enthusiast, immigrant, feminist and maker. I have been a member of MOUSE Corps, a technology design and leadership program in NYC for 3 years (and still counting) now. Every year in the MOUSE Corps program we create a new Legacy Project – a design and technology project that helps solve problems that we see in our community.

My first year in MOUSE Corps we focused on green energy and the environment. My group attached solar panels which were powered by an Arduino microprocessor to a hat and messenger bag. We named the prototype “Sol-Tech” and it powers any USB portable device using energy from the sun.

For my second year in MOUSE Corps, our projects helped people who are blind and visually-impaired address challenges that they encounter in their day-to-day life. We interviewed a woman named Dawn. She told us that one of the biggest challenges that she faces as a blind person is eating out in restaurants – Dawn has to feel around with her hands to find the food on her plate which can be messy and a bit embarrassing. To help solve her issue, we invented the “Dining Band” – a wrist-mounted circuit made to look like a watch with distance and temperature sensors that communicates the location of food on the plate with short vibrations.

This year in MOUSE Corps, we worked with people who have cerebral palsy. My group interviewed a woman named Tawn at United Cerebral Palsy of NYC. Tawn’s challenge is that she is unable to bend down or reach up to pick up things when she is using her crutches. This is especially challenging for Tawn because it takes away some of her independence. To help Tawn with this challenge, my group created the “Extend-a-arm”. The Extend-a-arm is an attachment to crutches that extends and retracts using a scissor-like motion. We used the MakerBot 3D printer to model plastic grippers that are interchangeable based on what Dawn has to pick up.

I have not always been “Zainab the designer/maker/activist” that I am today. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria where I lived with my family until I was 12. I’m part of the Yoruba tribe and the culture restricts women by treating them as inferior beings whose primary goal in life is to get married and have children. My dad’s mom once told me “What is the point of wasting money on educating a girl, if she’s only going to join another family and drop her father’s name when she gets married”. It is as if a woman doesn’t have her own distinct identity but always has to take on the identity of the men in her life – the father, the brother or the husband.

Rape, domestic violence, assault, derogatory comments, and restrictions for women in Nigeria go unchecked because it is all just chalked up to culture and traditions. When I was still living in Nigeria, I didn’t think any of these issues were a big deal, not only because I was young but because that was just the environment and beliefs to which I was accustomed. The turning point for me was when I moved to New York in 2009 after my mom passed away. I was angry because my dad just shipped me to totally new and different country. I was like a 5 foot 4 inch box filled with rebellion. I questioned everything I was told which was unsettling to the people I lived with back then. As a Nigerian child, you are taught to not question anything your elders told you and because of my questioning, I was labeled as the proverbial “bad” child. Questioning authority may have gotten me into a lot of trouble but I would not be who I am today if not for my passion for truth and my curiosity.

When I began school at Hudson High School of Learning Technologies, I was still that angry rebellious girl. One day, I had an incident with my principal and instead of her yelling at me or suspending me, she calmly spoke to me and talked to me about redirecting my angry energy into something more positive. I joined the MOUSE Squad student IT help desk in my school and later that same year joined MOUSE Corps. I truly believe that in their respective ways, both MOUSE and Hudson High School of Learning Technologies helped me find not only my voice, but also my Self – and for that I will always be grateful.

For me, activism has meant creating, designing, being a maker (not just a user), web making, influencing people around me, and being myself. Through V-Day, I’ve participated in activism like marching, holding banners, dancing and protesting at the One Billion Rising Event in Union Square. Being a maker has definitely opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I’ve written articles for the Huffington Post, attended the 2nd annual White House Science Fair, presented my MOUSE projects at Maker Faire, NY Tech Meetup, ISTE and several other conferences/events, spoke on panels with leaders like Karen Cator, received awards from the New York City Council, and I’ve even been featured in a Taiwanese education and technology magazine. Next, I hope to continue creating and making, keep speaking up and getting my voice heard and starting my own Design and Technology company.

My advice to girls (and boys) around the world is to find yourself and your passion. Make your voice heard about your passion either by speaking out or through your own version of art/activism/making. Activism can take many forms – find one that works for you no matter how little it might seem. Most importantly, remember to be yourself.

Check out Zainab's story here.