YouLead Warriors take on Playing With Solar!
On April 24th, 2021 our YouLead Warriors began the journey that is, Playing With Solar. Our Youth began taking power into their own hands, solar power to be exact!
The project consisted of many workshops guided by the amazing Engineers Without Borders UCT (EWB) team and our YouLead mentors. In these workshops our young leaders began their journey in understanding energy and the role that it plays in our lives.
These workshops walked them through the basics of renewable energy, the different forms of harvesting it, and its importance.
YouLead warriors at COSAT High School Hall in a Playing With Solar Workshop
The workshops led to a site visit to solar powered initiative in Qandu Qandu.
This solar powered microgrid was set up and is ran by Zonke Energy. It is helping the community take power into their own hands. Our group learnt the reality of connecting grid electricity into the community and the socio-economic injustices that play a role. For many these realities are what they themselves face.
YouLead warriors at community micro grid in Qandu Qandu
This site visit highlighted the importance of these solar systems, and why energy justice is a must in South Africa.
Having seen first hand the innovative solution that had been adopted in Qandu Qandu to provide alternative energy, our warriors began the next leg of their journey. They were ready to take all that they learnt and do something practical with the information. That practical something being assembling their very own solar light powered power banks!
The EWB team and our Youth team investigated the essential parts needed for this project. They broke down how it works and with the knowledge from the workshops our warriors caught on easily. After preparing their materials and the careful assembly, the pocket sized solar power banks were ready! Marking the end of the playing with solar 2021 project.
YouLead Warriors holding their solar powered power banks
We are so grateful for the Engineers Without Borders UCT team, for all their support and we know that our warriors feel the same way!
This project was made possible in collaboration with and support from New Zealand High Commission Pretoria, South Africa.
We cannot wait for what the future holds for this group of empowered climate leaders.
Statements from warriors:
“I had a great experience with you engineers without borders, and I would like to thank you guys for having patients with us. I will also like to thank you guys for teaching us about circuits and for teaching us how to make our own power banks”– Phawulethu Mafumana, YouLead Warrior
“Being able to be yourself and grow was one of my goals and that goal has been achieved, all thanks to Project 90. They made me feel welcomed and I got to know a lot about global warming and climate change. I would also like to thank the Engineers Without Borders for teaching me about Solar and how it works.”– Zolisa Soganga, YouLead Warrior
“Playing with Solar project has been my greatest experience because I learned new things that I didn’t know that you could even do it yourself. I even learned how to make my own solar power bank, something that I thought I could never do. A big thanks to Engineers Without Borders.”
– Buhle Dyonase, YouLead Warrior
