Meaningful Making: Eco-Innovations in Africa

The Global Minimum recently held Final Showcase Events in South Africa and Kenya in November and December 2014. More than 20 finalist teams showcased their innovations in front of judges and subject matter experts. The teams who made most progress in their prototypes were the "SpiruteensTeam" from South Africa and the "Visha Team" from Kenya.

The Spiruteens, from The Cape Academy of Math, Science and Technology in South Africa, grew and harvested high protein superfood, spirulina, in their school lab to combat child malnutrition. They taught how to grow spirulina in other schools using starter packs, and they now have an ambitious goal to create and sell a variety of low cost spirulina products.

The Vishas, from Kenya High School in Kenya, started an initiative that collects, cleans, repairs and distributes old school uniforms at no cost or at an affordable price to families who cannot purchase uniforms for their children. By partnering with surrounding schools, the Visha team is determined to lessen parents' barriers to sending children to school.

Meanwhile, in Sierra Leone, more than 800 youth are designing solutions to combat Ebola through Global Minimum's "Hack at Home Design Challenge." Some participants printed Ebola campaign messages on t-shirts and banners with graphics they designed themselves. Others created personal protective gear from local materials they found in their homes. The majority of youth participants in our program are eager to be part of the solution to this challenge faced by the country.

Our presence remains strong in these areas, and we look forward to hearing from you- our supporters. Let us know what you think of our progress and our programs!