Solar Energy for Kampong Thom
(A project of the German speaking catholic community „St. Elisabeth” Singapore)
The project “Solar Energy for Kampong Thom“ began in September 2007. During our visits to the orphanage we witnessed problems with the supply of electricity, which often failed in the evenings, so that the children were not able to attend their additional classes or to do other things like reading, practising dance, etc.
Because of this the idea emerged to look into an alternative and forward-looking supply of energy for the orphanage.
One of our community members had studied environmental pedagogics at the Technical University of Berlin. He had the necessary contacts and know-how in the field of environmental educational concepts in solar technology and how to teach them to children and teenagers.
He revived his ties with his former lecturer, Rainer Morsch, and a fellow student, who works for the Berlin based educational association “Life e.V.” During an information sharing evening in our community he offered us some of his knowledge in the area of solar technology and acquainted us with the association’s concept of environmental education. Together we had a first brain-storming session. We were enthusiastic ...
and developed the following three-stage concept:
1. Short-term: Training in solar energy technologies
Train the Trainer We trained children, teenagers and adults of our community in solar technology. Initially we conducted two evening workshops in our community, where adults and teenagers were introduced to the concept of solar technology. A few weeks later four children of the orphanage in Kampong Thom were taught the same, when they visited us in Singapore. We were very impressed and delighted with their easy grasp of the subject and with their dexterousness.
Workshop On one of the following weekends, children and teenagers of our community were taught – with appropriate support – in how to build solar toys and solar battery chargers....