A group of young scholars in Indian River County has successfully bridged the gap between a local gymnasium and the remote bushlands of East Africa, proving that local community service can have a truly global reach.
The Gifford Youth Achievement Center recently empowered nearly 30 of its students to build self-contained solar power systems. These devices, meticulously assembled during a local Day of Service, have now been installed across nine boarding schools in Kenya, providing vital electricity that enhances both education and student safety in off-grid communities.
The groundbreaking initiative took place at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, where local middle and high school students gathered to assemble what are known as solar suitcases. This hands-on project was designed not only to teach practical engineering skills but also to foster a profound sense of global citizenship among Indian River County youth.
According to Curtis Webb, the youth programs director at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, the initiative immersed students in deep science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. He noted that the true reward of the project is watching local efforts cross international borders to solve real-world problems. To add a personal touch to their engineering feats, the local students tucked handwritten letters and photographs of themselves working on the project inside the completed suitcases to connect with their peers overseas.
The solar suitcases were sent half a world away to Samburu County, a hot, dry, and windy region located roughly eight hours north of Nairobi, Kenya. Because the area operates entirely off the national power grid, boarding school students previously faced total darkness by 7 p.m. each evening. This lack of electricity severely limited study time and posed significant safety risks to the children.
Ivy Wangusi, a Nairobi-based solar consultant and engineer with Women In Sustainable Energy & Entrepreneurship, led the installation team. She explained that the addition of reliable light allows students to continue their studies into the evening while providing a critical deterrent against roaming wildlife. The lush expanse of the Samburu National Reserve is home to elephants, snakes, cheetahs, and hyenas, which are naturally kept at bay by the newly illuminated campuses.
The logistical and technical success of the project was made possible by a robust coalition of partners, which included:
- The Gifford Youth Achievement Center
- The Learning Alliance
- We Care Solar
- The Joyful Noise Charitable Foundation
- Save The Elephants Foundation
In total, 31 solar suitcases built by students across the United States were deployed to Kenya, with 10 of those systems originating directly from the Gifford assembly event. Each suitcase features a stand-alone 12-volt DC solar power system. Upon arrival in East Africa, local engineers upgraded the units with larger batteries and powerful 100-watt solar panels. These durable systems were then mounted directly to classroom walls, with the solar panels secured to the rooftops. Wangusi’s engineering team will perform routine maintenance on the hardware every three years to ensure long-term reliability.
Anna Gomberg, the education senior program manager for We Care Solar, hopes that providing tangible, life-changing equipment to students of similar ages will inspire Indian River County youth to pursue dedicated careers in the sciences. This project marks yet another impressive milestone for the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, which previously expanded its educational boundaries by hosting a live downlink with the International Space Station.
Through this remarkable initiative, local students have learned that their dedication to community service in Gifford can literally bring light to the darkest corners of the globe.
