Malick Ndiayea 12-year-old Senegalese man, has been able to build a telescope functional using only wires and cans as a result of his interest in the universe and astronomy, and thanks to reading a book called ‘The Whole Universe’, related to space and stars. The little boy, who barely has any resources, took only two weeks to build the device, using, in addition to the aforementioned objects, the lenses of his father’s old glasses, who helped him discover his passion. This is his story.
Ndiaye became interested in astronomy at a very young age, thanks to his father, Malick Ndiaye, who worked as a driver for the former president of Senegal, Adbou Diouf, and who 30 years ago took home a copy of the book ‘The Whole Universe’ that the former president himself gave him after his retirement. That book inspired Malick to build the aforementioned telescope, which went unnoticed among the citizens until a man who was working on the site became interested and decided to post a video about the device on Facebook.
The clip, where the little boy appears showing the telescope, went viral, and a large number of journalists did not hesitate to travel to his residence to learn more about his interest in astronomy. There were so many that even Malick’s mother insured one of them: José Naranjo, from The country; feeling “stressed” and worried fearing that her son would be distracted from his studies by the interviews. Naranjo was able to talk with the little boy about the telescope. “When I focused on the night sky and saw the details of the Moon’s surface, it seemed to me that I could touch it with my hand”Malick told him.
Malick Ndiaye now has two telescopes
The endearing story of Malick Ndiaye, which traveled through the different international and Senegalese media, reached Maram Kaire, current president of the Senegalese Association for the Promotion of Astronomy. Kaire, who has also been exploring the sky since she was 12 years old,and gave Malick a second telescopeeither. This time, a more complete one made with parts that are allowing the little one to observe the stars more precisely.
“When I was able to see the video, it reminded me of myself when I was a kid and I thought of all the efforts we make to spread this science. I did not hesitate to react because I know how difficult it is to gaze at the stars without a suitable instrument, to have a passion and not be able to develop it”
Explains Maram Kaire to The country.
Malick Ndiaye according to The country, maintains the device he made with just a few cans, a piece of wire, and the lenses he misses from his father’s glasses. The little boy assures that his goal is not to become an astronaut, but simply to look at the stars.