Lighting the Way: Richfield Students Build Solar Suitcases in CIS Climate Crisis

Students in the Richfield High School College in the Schools: Climate Crisis course are learning about the importance of providing clean energy and combating climate change. We Share Solar, sponsors of the project, and RHS students aim to address energy poverty for the 1 billion-plus people with limited or no access to electricity. While learning the physics of photovoltaic power, students assemble and test Solar Suitcases that provide bright light in dark classrooms in schools experiencing energy poverty overseas.

This project first began at RHS in 2020, when students built a Solar Suitcase that was deployed in Ugunja County, Kenya. Before receiving the suitcase, students at Madungu Primary School had limited access to electricity and experienced weekly outages. Now, the Kenyan students study more effectively and prepare for state examinations. It also allows them to charge electronic devices without having to travel long distances.

The pictures show students in Mr. Brown’s class assembling Solar Suitcases last week. Suitcases will be deployed to schools in need of reliable lighting. The deployment location will not be known until the summer, but most often the suitcases are deployed in Kenya, Uganda, or the Philippines.