Following on the success of Playing with Solar in 2016, we were super excited to revamp the project – Playing with Solar 2.0 – for 2017!
Over the course of seven weeks, Leadership Club members from 10 different high schools in the Cape Town area were taken on an explorative journey: to understand the basics of electricity, to find out how electricity is generated using solar photovoltaics, and to take a glimpse into the not-so-distant future of smart micro grids – a computerised self-generating electricity grid.
As well as gaining new knowledge, the Leadership Clubs were split into mixed school groups to build a solar Lightbox. Rhodes High School learner Danai Gwangwadza said – “Playing with Solar has also taught me the value of working with people from different backgrounds which has been an amazing experience and an unforgettable one”.
A solar Lightbox is a small unit consisting of a 40W solar panel, a battery and a charge controller. On a full charge it is able to power three LED lights and charge a cell phone.
While building the Lightboxes the young participants were encouraged to complete particular tasks and reflect on their abilities to communicate and to work in a team. One key task the participants had was to identify community sites where the Lightboxes could be installed.
Damica Fortuin said “Playing with Solar made me realise how much people do not have access to electricity.”
In the second school term, the participants will be invited to take part in the next phase of the Playing with Solar project – to install the Solar Lightboxes at selected community sites with the Project 90 team. Follow us on Facebook to find out more.
