BuildAfrica.org

From Cell Phone Charging to LED Lights

Aug 31, 2009 Africa, Ghana, Innovators, Power, Technology

In an earlier post, I covered the work of a Ghana inventor named Nana Owusu Acheampong who was using D-Cells and a custom made wooden battery holder to charge cell phones. On a recent visit to Bonsaaso, a small village about 100KM south of Kumasi, the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Acheampong and seeing first hand some of the projects he has been working on.

Cheap Chinese LEDs, which are pervasive in Mali, have not yet reached this part of Ghana so Mr. Acheampong and others have started to make their own LED light arrays powered by wooden box battery holders. Asked how he came about the idea for the battery boxes, Mr. Acheampong explained that observed his radio worked that way so he “took the power out of his radio”.

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. It was a thrill to meet someone so truly passionate and excited by his own creations. He is exactly the kind of person who with a bit of support, access to better materials and little extra electrical training could help light up a community.

LED light made from MTN advertising and LEDs purchased from Kumasi.

Used CD helps reflect the light from the LEDs.

How Mr. Acheampong lights his room. He no longer purchases kerosene he claims.

Note: Rural Africa still relies heavily on disposable D-Cells for much of its energy. They are popular for their low purchase price, however, they are expensive on a $/AH basis and environmental standpoint. Thus, the idea of creating small businesses around rechargeable D-Cells intrigues me. It seems like an obvious idea but I’ve yet to see it done. If you know of examples of where this is being attempted please let me know.

William Kamkwamba Windmill Maker - Maker Faire Africa 2009

Aug 15, 2009 Africa, Innovation, Innovators, Malawi, Power

One of the real highlights thus far at Maker Faire Africa 2009 has been the presence of William Kamkwamba. William is a remarkable young inventor from rural Malawi, who at the age of 14, built his first windmill out of scrap parts (including his father’s bike) after learning about one in a book.  William’s simple message of not letting your goals be defined by constraints is inspirational and resonated particularly powerful with the other African maker’s in attendance at Maker Faire.

Expect to hear more from William this year as he is about to release a book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which comes out September 29th. I expect it to be very popular as his is a story that particularly deserves telling.

To learn more about William and find out about his important work please visit: www.williamkamkwamba.com

Toys from Trash

Mar 8, 2009 Education, Innovation, Innovators

Photo and quotes from Toy Story Times of India story

Some people talk about trying to change the world, then there are people like Arvind Gupta who have spend the last 30 years doing so.  A graduate of IIT, Gupta left a promising career as a Telco engineer, to teach science.  After seeing expensive UNICEF science kits left unopened, for fear of being damaged, Gupta realized that teachers needed to be able to make things themselves to be able to teach well.  Ascribing to a view point that, “Science is not hardware, it is a viewpoint,” he began to create “toys” from everyday items, often trash, to teach children scientific concepts with the underlying belief that a more expensive education does not necessarily translate into a better one.  Gupta and his team at the Children’s Science Centre at the University of Pune’s amazing work can be found on the incredible Toys from Trash website.

When I see project’s like the simple electric motor, I can’t help but wonder how many more William Kamkwamba’s we would we have if teachers had access to Gupta “toys” in rural African schools.

When not designing new toys, Gupta also translates books into Hindi (100+ books!) which he posts for free on his website.   I need to file Arvind Gupta in the back of my mind for the next time I am feeling lazy!