Omaha Elementary Students Change the World! No, seriously…

A couple years ago, right before my first presentation to an elementary school assembly, I asked the principal, “Do the kids know what electricity is?” I couldn’t remember at what age I had first learned about electricity. Maybe it that was a no-brainer topic for the kids, or maybe it wasn’t taught until middle school. I think this question can represent my, and maybe your, underestimation of children. Sometimes we forget that they are capable of grasping big ideas, and caring for people they have never met, and yes, understanding what electricity is.

I had the distinct privilege of having a first-row seat to the development of the Crestridge-Togo story over the last eight or nine months — and what a story it is! Crestridge Magnet Center, besides being an incredible bi-lingual elementary school, engages in a service learning project each year. Last year we were fortunate to be a part of their service project by connecting them to a high school in rural Togo in need of electricity. So the students took on the challenge of raising $1,000 to help buy solar panels for Togo. Our part was providing the story of the school in Togo, as well as some education about renewable energy, both here in Nebraska and around the world. A wonderful volunteer from UNO, Chase Barrington, taught a wind energy activity to all the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders over a few months. The students enjoyed learning about wind energy and really got into building a mini wind turbine and competing with their friends to produce the most energy.

Sometime around March or April, Principal Schmid shared that the students had blown past the $1,000 mark and had reset their goal to $3,000! We were a little shocked by their success and encouraged by their tenacity. During this time, I was putting together a team of (mostly) engineers to travel to Togo to oversee the installation of the solar panel system at the school. By the time June rolled around the school in Togo was wired with lights and fans, the solar panel system was purchased and delivered to the school, and our team was ready to travel to Togo. The team spent about two weeks in Togo, installing the system and getting to know the community. By the time we left Togo, we saw the lights turn on at Wogba High School! We were pleased to board the plane home knowing that we had empowered a community through providing reliable energy for the high school.

As awesome as it was to provide this reliable energy in Wogba, I can honestly say that my greatest joy with this project came from connecting the students at Crestridge to the students in Wogba. Knowing that kids, who may or may not understand renewable energy or electricity, care enough about kids half way around the world to give of their time, energy and money is an inspiration to me. The students at Crestridge really understood that the children in Togo are not that different from them, but could use a little help, and that all of us in America have a little to give. I am proud to have played a part in the Crestridge-Togo story, and am a better person for it. Go Crestridge!