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  Changing Lives in Developing Countries Through Engineering

  Posted by Shig, medical engineering - February 22, 2012

  Speck Design proudly participated in a book drive to help build a library in Lesotho, Africa, in support of the African Library Project, which “coordinates book drives in the United States and partners with African schools and villages to start small libraries.”

  The Power of Wind

  Our book donations (which totaled 1150 children’s books, exceeding our 1000 book goal) were inspired by one man’s mission to help his community through the power of design and engineering.  After hearing a moving TED presentation from William Kamkwamba author of “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”, Speck Design was intrigued and excited to read his book.  The story is about a small country called Malawi in Southeast Africa, where modern science and technology have yet to make it to the forefront of their culture.  As Malawi was suffering from drought and hunger, William sought a solution.  After visiting the local library where he read about windmills in a forgotten science book, he dreamed about bringing electricity and running water to his village.  One man’s curiosity and determination changed the lives of the people around him, when he built a windmill out of scrap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle frames to fight the famine around him. 

  William has since built two additional windmills − the tallest currently stands at 39 feet.  He has also been able to help provide the first drinking water to his village through a solar-powered water pump.  His next plan: Building more windmills for surrounding communities.

  Solar Bottle Bulb

  On a similar note, I recently watched a short video about the power of simplistic and innovative engineering in developing countries.  In Sitio Maligaya, a small community in the Phillipines, the homes are built so close together that no sunlight can enter many of their homes.  With no electricity, some of the people sleep their time away during the day because of the darkness in their homes.  That all changed when one man known as “Solar Demi” began installing one-liter Pepsi plastic bottles into people’s homes as a source of light.  The innovative idea: Cutting a small hole in a piece of metal roofing, slipping a plastic bottle through the hole and sealing it in place.  Then he adds a mixture of filtered water and a small amount of bleach to the bottle, which is tightly sealed to prevent leaking.  These “light bulbs” provide light through the sun’s rays, which shine onto the bottles, diffuse through the water and into the home, providing the same amount of light as a 60w light bulb.  643 solar bottle bulbs have already been installed in people’s homes, and more are being installed every day.

  I find it fascinating how “Solar Demi” engineered light out of virtually nothing.  It is an example of extreme affordability and creative thinking for real life.  The problem is that there is no money to be made in this.  However, with videos like “A Liter of Light” people can see that there are actual human benefits to these creative ideas.  The video was presented in an effective way that not only established the conditions of the town but helps inspire people into action.  It wasn’t sappy or over produced.  Rather, the video conveyed the idea that it doesn’t only take a big industry or schools to come up with innovative ideas that help make a difference – creative ideas can be right in front of you in the form of scrap metal or even empty Pepsi bottles.

  Both of these stories are great examples of the importance of local participation in establishing inventive engineering to help better lives.  For Speck Design, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” and A Liter of Light shed some light on the importance of exceptional thinking and willingness to act on them.  Their successes are small examples of human creativity as way of dealing with our rapidly growing world that house more than six billion people.