The solar powered schoolbag invented by Thato Kgatlhanye is giving dignity to school children of South Africa, and helping them study better.
Thato Kgatlhanye attributes her “do good” attitude to her mother. “My mom cares about people like you wouldn’t imagine… so I grew up in an environment where I was always conscious of actually caring for other people and having a sense of empathy,” she says.
Which is why when she had to do a university project, she decided on doing something that would help people. She had noticed that many children in her community used plastic bags to carry their books to school. She decided to “upcycle” these bags and make them durable, environmentally friendly and waterproof. But didn’t want to stop there.
A conversation with her mother gave her the next big idea. Her mother told her how she used to study in her childhood using candles, which were not long lasting and would die mid-week. Also, the candles were fire hazards.
This gave her the idea of making the bags solar powered. She fitted the bags with a retro-reflective material and a solar panel. This panel charges when the child walks to and from school during the day, and then at night, the child can use it to study. And as this video shows, it is having a real impact on their studies.
Not only is the bag helping children, but is also helping women by employing them in the factory. As one woman says in the same video, “Before getting a job, it was very difficult, especially as a woman with children. But now that I am working here, at least my children can eat because I am able to put something on the table. They are able to go to school like other children. So even I can shine.”
Because the bags are made by recycling plastic, the social and environmental impact are increased.
Thato’s work has earned the attention of Bill Gates, who tweeted about her and met her. When asked about that experience in this interview, she says, “What I have learnt is to do to meaningful work. You don’t do it for the applause. You actually do it from a place of purpose…we are just in a space where when you are celebrated by the billionaires of the world, it is an even better experience if you know you’ve been doing meaningful work.”
She has been awarded, “Innovator of the Year” by Forbes Women Africa and the recipient of the Elle Magazine Impact award laureate across 6 continents. In 2016 she became the youngest business woman, at age 23, to appear on the cover of Forbes Women Africa.
South Africa still isn’t able to completely shrug off the evils of apartheid, and even now education for black people is compromised. Investments are made in areas that already have resources, rather than in areas that really need them. While the education system itself is considered one of the worst in the world, and needs a complete overhaul, the fact that many parents simply cannot afford basic school supplies, clothes, etc is often overlooked. It is on such a dismal picture that Thato Kgatlhanye’s solar powered school bags shine as a ray of hope.
The theme of International Women’s Day, 2019, which falls on March 8th, is “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”. #IWD2019
With women still a minority in science, technology & related innovation, it’s time to shine a spotlight on female innovation champions! Enjoy our Women Innovators Around The World series, where we profile 19 inspiring women innovators, from 19 countries, whose work has a big social impact.
Want to know what other innovations women around the world have pioneered? Read about Rema Rajeswari IPS here.
Image source: YouTube
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This strange love story reminds me of Princess Diana when she gave an interview about Prince Charles - "There were three of us in this marriage!”
This love was flawed and broken the way only we humans know how to break things with our ego, pride, insecurity and complexities!
Where do I even begin to tell the story of how deep a love can be, how it transcends time, place and people. Perhaps this is a story about how women are their own worst enemies. Either way it is a story that tells us how frail, fragile and fraught we are as humans and how much we hurt each other.
This love story began when I was two years old. Growing up in India in a culture that wove love stories like Laila Majnu, Heer Ranjha and the epic symbol of love, the Taj Mahal, into the very fabric of our existence, love was always an integral part of our lives.
One such love story was of a boy and a girl who were neighbours. The boy, an athlete, artist and a poet, found his muse in this shy, thoughtful and in her own way poetic girl, who seemed to worship the very ground he walked on. Her face could be found in all the paintings he created, and her name in every poem he wrote. The girl called him Sagar, which means ocean, symbolizing his all-encompassing love for her.
Everything thing was going well; their wedding date was being finalized, till the boy’s older brother who was a doctor in the same little town, got accepted into Stanford Medical School to do his MS.
Earlier my husband would say, 'Arey! What is there in making dal-roti? It's so simple.' After he had to cook everyday when I was ill, he has stopped saying that to me!
“Arey! What is there to do in making dal roti? Put a handful of lentils in the cooker and let it whistle and make two rotis. After all, how long will it take?” A handful of dal (lentils) and two rotis! This is the story of every woman and no one seems to understand.
Some time ago, after a shopping spree, my husband and I entered the house, exhausted. I had just about kept all the bags aside, when my husband said, “I am very hungry, can you make something.”
I looked at my husband in amazement and thought, ‘He had just had food, how did he get hungry again so soon?’
My husband, as if he had read my face, said, “Arey! You know that my stomach is not filled with outside food. Just make dal roti. What is there to do in making dal roti? Put a handful of lentils in the cooker and let it whistle and make two rotis. After all, how long will it take?”
‘Is this the way dal (lentils) and roti are made?’ The thought came to my mind. ‘After all, I also went along and now I am tired too.’ I was also getting angry at myself that after all, I had spoiled the habit of everyone in the house.
At night when she would cry into her pillows, 21 year old Vishnu would bring flowers and bangles to bring the smile back on her face. The sight of tears in his beautiful bride's eyes would break his heart.
At night when she would cry into her pillows, 21 year old Vishnu would bring flowers and bangles to bring the smile back on her face. The sight of tears in his beautiful bride’s eyes would break his heart.
The first winner of our January 2020 Muse of the Month contest is Manideepa Lahiri.
“This is not fair. You always take the window seat.” Vishnu complained.
“That’s only because you are afraid of heights, old man!” Laxmi retorted.
As Vishnu opened his mouth to counteract his wife’s accusations, his eyes went to the well dressed fiftyish gentleman sitting besides him. He was listening to their squabble and seemed to be enjoying it too.
"But was she being selfish? Was she not supposed to think about her future? Kunal would be her husband. She could not just disregard his opinions." A short story.
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“Sorry Didi, I was just looking,” said Charu sincerely. “Look, I have made your favourite upma today. Just like Kakimaa!”
Sadhna’ heart melted as the 13-year girl served her upma. She tasted a bite, her eyes welling up.