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About Us

Cultivating Genius. Honoring Heritage. Building Human Capital.

At Ishango, we believe every child carries an inner genius — a spark of creativity and potential that grows when given the right tools, mentors, and space to explore. Inspired by the ancient Ishango Bone, one of Africa’s earliest mathematical artifacts, we blend STEM education, cultural heritage, and hands-on Maker learning to show young people that innovation is already part of their story.

We see learning as a pathway to human capital development: from curiosity to creation, and from creation to opportunity. Through robotics, engineering, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and culturally-rooted STEM, we help youth build the knowledge and confidence to shape their own futures.

Ishango is more than a program — it is a community. We honor local wisdom, encourage creativity, and empower young people in Togo and across Africa to become thinkers, makers, and changemakers.

From heritage to innovation, we help every learner release the genius within.

Our team

Ishango instructors are STEM majors and graduates from the University of Lomé. They are intelligent, patient and each has a passion for their respective discipline. They commute in small teams to schools, associations, and community spaces around Lomé.

The Ishango Bone: Oldest Mathematical Tool

Ishango is named in honour of a pre-historic mathematical tool called the Ishango Bone. It was discovered in 1956 by Belgian archaeologist Jean de Hainzelin in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is approximately 25,000 years old and is considered by renowned scientists to be the first mathematical tool, computer, and calendar. 

The significance of the Ishango Bone is that Palaeolithic humans may have already had a well-developed understanding of advanced mathematics, including prime numbers, thousands of years before originally thought. 

At Ishango, we encourage young people to embrace mathematics and all of its related disciplines as a natural and innate part of the human experience.

 

Lomé Mini Maker Faire: Celebration of Ingenuity

It is called the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth – a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. 

Ishango is a sponsor and host of the Lomé Mini Maker Faire. Maker Faire is a gathering held in hundreds of cities around the world of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, projects.

The third Lomé Maker Faire will take place Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Learn More about the Lomé Mini Maker Faire

 

Why choose us

At Ishango, we believe that every child has unique potential. Our methods transform learning into a lively, practical, and inspiring experience.

Fun and practical learning

Interactive workshops that transform science, technology and mathematics into captivating adventures. Children learn by manipulating, experimenting and having fun.

Key skills of the future

Development of creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. Preparation for the jobs of tomorrow through STEM projects and youth entrepreneurship.

Passionate and caring supervision

Experienced and motivated trainers from education, science and technology. A teaching method adapted to each age and each learner profile.

Ishango

Every child is a creator.

Register your child now!