Inspire PEACH Workshop in Blantyre Receives Acclaim from Participants
The two-day dissemination workshop on the Inspire PEACH project garners praise for its success and valuable insights.
BLANTYRE, Malawi – Participants of the two-day Inspire PEACH dissemination workshop, held at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre on June 26 and 27, have hailed the event as a resounding success, writes Sumeya Issa.
The Inspire PEACH project, a collaboration between Malawi, represented by the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and Kenya, brought together a diverse group of international stakeholders and partners to share crucial information related to the PEACH initiative.
According to feedback from the member of the MUBAS team, who shared their experience at the workshop, the event achieved a majority of its goals and proved to be highly successful.
Evelyn Chapuma, a Computer Engineer at MUBAS and a member of the Inspire PEACH team, spoke with AfricaBrief about the workshop, describing it as an eye-opening experience that enabled team members and partners to exchange strong ideas and essential information about the project they have been diligently working on.
Chapuma emphasized the value of interacting and networking with international partners, highlighting the diverse range of perspectives they gained on the project and topics surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science.
She expressed, "As a Computer Engineer, I find the workshop relevant because I enjoy witnessing and analyzing how people respond to change in the field of AI. I was particularly interested in observing people's reactions to the Inspire PEACH project, and I can confidently say that everyone who attended the workshop, whether in person or virtually, welcomed this solution with open arms. It signifies a positive step in the right direction."
Furthermore, Chapuma underscored the significance of workshops in driving impactful projects, as they facilitate interaction, connection, and collaboration among team members.
She said, "Some lessons I have learned from networking with international partners are that collaboration is vital when aiming to make a significant impact in Africa. People from different countries possess diverse perspectives, and it is these varying views that contribute to the success and productivity of projects. I have realized that Africa, in essence, is one large country with shared needs and desires. Therefore, by working together frequently, we can collectively improve Africa as a whole, rather than focusing on individual countries."
Moses Gwaza, the Research Developer for MUBAS INSPIRE, also regarded the workshop as a success, emphasizing its comprehensive coverage of essential aspects related to the Peach project.
He said, "I would consider the workshop a success. It tackled all the important aspects, and it was encouraging to witness all partners working towards the same goals during their project presentations. Additionally, the enthusiasm displayed by the invited guests to learn about data standardization and other relevant tools was remarkable."
Gwaza further highlighted the workshop's relevance in shedding light on the application of AI in healthcare through one of the presentations, expanding the learning experience beyond the project itself.
Throughout the workshop, several presentations took place, including a high-level overview of AI by Linda Maoyi (SAPRIN), a showcase of the Data Platform's features and functionality by Tathagata Bhattacharjee (Lead), Michael Ochola, Gonjetso Chinyama, and Moses Gwaza.
The event also featured a live demonstration of the data platform for COVID-19 data, emphasizing its key features, functionalities, and user interface. Additionally, Prof. Jim Todd explored the significance of a data platform for COVID-19 data in Africa, among other engaging sessions.
The Inspire PEACH workshop not only succeeded in bringing together international stakeholders but also provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.