Illuminate
the possibilities of technology by using it to address global challenges.
Technology allows us to ask previously unimaginable questions and find solutions to unsolved problems.
IEEE Smart Village
Program Highlights
IEEE Smart Village (ISV) empowers more than 150,000 people in more than 100 villages around the world. One particular project in 2017 clearly targets the three pillars of ISV: Social Enterprise, Education and Access. The Shakti Empowerment Solutions Pvt Ltd projects combine community education with entrepreneurial business opportunities to provide rural villagers with access to clean energy and education, creating a blueprint for a scalable rollout to 10 villages in five years and transforming 41 communities by 2027.
The solar energy enterprise powers households, small commercial beneficiaries and community resources such as a water purification plant, impacting approximately 150 families. The education program provides village members with access to classes held in a community center with reliable electricity and internet connectivity.
Transforming Lives in Cameroon
Igniting Africa’s “Bright Village” solar energy program provides life-transforming energy in three villages in North West Cameroon (west Africa). Before the advent of reliable and continuous power in these communities, life was tough for villagers, especially small market business owners and youth. In the villages, barbering was done with hand sheers and razor blades; those who didn’t like a haircut with scissors had to travel to the nearest town with grid electricity, which was a three-hour or more walk away. Today, all three villages have hair care salons using electric clippers, creating employment for seven young barbers and beauticians. The lives of these young Cameroonians have now been made more meaningful thanks to the presence of reliable solar power in their communities.
The solar power plants of Igniting Africa serve as training grounds for students of the Igniting Africa School of Humanitarian Entrepreneurship and students from local universities that don’t have electricity laboratories. At the power station, students from poor, rural communities learn about the systems and capabilities that are most needed in their community, like home wiring, solar installation and maintenance, solar water pumping and irrigation, and energy entrepreneurship.
This tuition-free, work-study training program makes education accessible to the rural poor. As Igniting Africa’s solar stations are managed by the graduates, the solar stations offer them direct job opportunities.
Previously, village shops would close by 6 pm due to the lack of lighting. Since the arrival of solar power, however, shops now operate up until 10 pm, which has led to increased sales and income for shop owners. Villagers now stay around the market square into the night, which has added a new and different social dynamic to village life.
National Geographic’s Breakthrough Episode – Power to the People. IEEE volunteers to bring power to remote communities.
By The Numbers
- 150,000: Lives impacted and transformed
- 1,082.7: Kilowatts deployed
- 100+: Villages illuminated
- $33.24: Cost per beneficiary
- 83: Students from 21 countries enrolled in the Regis Master of Development Practice degree program (up from 61 in 10 countries from 2016)
Thanks to the AC power now provided by Bright Village (a seed-funded program of Smart Village) this haircut salon in the village of Illung, Cameroon has an active clientele 6 days a week. The business, established by a local Catholic Priest from India in service to the community, is one of several humanitarian endeavors and small business start-ups he is funding now thanks to Bright Village power.
IEEE Smart Village was a finalist in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs “Powering the Future We Want Energy Grant.“ The 2017 theme was: “Sustainable Energy for Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing World.
EPICS in IEEE
Program Highlights
Each year EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) in IEEE aims to answer the question: Why are we unique? EPICS in IEEE operates on a global partnership model where students actively collaborate with local service organizations and community leadership to address localized challenges. In the process, students become better equipped for the future by gaining technological experience with a global perspective. The program also serves as an effective recruiting tool for STEM-oriented professions, with young women making up one-third of the participants. Since 2009, EPICS in IEEE has funded 96 projects across 34 different countries and has made a tangible difference in the lives of more than 221,000 people. Fifteen new projects were funded in 2017, bringing the total grant amount awarded to $583,577.
Go Baby Go!
Research has shown that independent mobility positively impacts motor, cognitive, language and social-emotional development. “Go Baby Go” is a national, community-based research, design, and outreach program that creates modified ride-on cars for young children with mobility issues. Wichita State University (WSU), KS, US, and IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) partnered with the nonprofit organization Rainbows United, Inc. (RUI), whose mission is to enhance the lives of children with special needs and their families by bringing together community resources and providing customized services.
A 2016-2017 EPICS in IEEE grant of $10,000 has helped WSU continue the “Go Baby Go” partnership by supporting the creation of accessible, personalized ride-on vehicles that enable independent mobility for young children with special needs. “Go Baby Go” cars are modified through novel engineering techniques using plastic pipes, plastic foam swim noodles, kickboards, fabric fasteners, a toddler car seat, and an activation switch. Every car is modified based upon the child’s condition – from Down syndrome to conditions that require the aid of a ventilator.
In June 2017, WSU students presented the first personalized, off-the-shelf, ride-on car to Aaron, a two-year-old boy with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Due to Aaron’s degenerative condition and eventual loss of motor function, his car featured a touch panel with controls for movement. The touch interface is an Android tablet with an Android app to control the movement of the redesigned ride-on car.
The IEEE Western Puerto Rico Section and EPICS in IEEE supported the deployment of OASIS of Light – solar power charging stations.
By The Numbers
- 15: New projects in 2017
- 27,052: Beneficiaries impacted
- 139: IEEE volunteers involved
- 103: Female students involved
- 382: Male Students involved
Understanding that there’s no better feeling than creating something completely new that will help change someone’s life, IEEE-HKN student members worked diligently on a “Go Baby Go” project. Here the team presents a custom-outfitted mobile electric car to a child with special needs. “This project will make a difference in the lives of infants and toddlers who have special needs,” said Debbie Mai, vice president of programs and services, Rainbows United, Inc., “all while providing valuable experiences for the Wichita State University engineering students.”
An EPICS in IEEE team completed a project to introduce telecommunications services to isolated, rural communities in the Amazon region of Brazil. The IEEE Centro-Norte Brazil Section and the IEEE Student Branch at Federal University of Para (UFPA) completed the project by erecting a cellular base station and tower in the small agricultural community of Itabocal, Brazil. The base station can run mobile services including voice calls, SMS and the internet. Enhanced health, education, and safety as well as the facilitation of small business development are just some of the benefits enabled by cellular connectivity.
IEEE-USA MOVE
Program Highlights
2017 was a busy year for the IEEE-USA Mobile Outreach Vehicle (MOVE) team. After providing support to victims of flooding in Missouri, US in May, the team deployed continuously for disaster relief efforts from mid-August through October. When not deployed for disaster relief efforts, the team worked to support STEM and community outreach events that notably included the Atlanta Science Festival and The National Scout Jamboree.
In the last quarter of 2017, the MOVE team assisted with communication outages caused by overuse during the eclipse event, followed by a marathon chain of deployments to Houston, TX, US for Hurricane Harvey Relief as well as to Florida, US (specifically Naples and Key West) to assist victims of Hurricane Irma.
Recharging Power and Potential
On 26 August 2017 Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130 mph. Traveling 1,357 miles, IEEE MOVE volunteers arrived at 10 pm CDT during torrential downpours at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX, US.
After spending the night in the MOVE truck, the team set up communications infrastructure for first responders and assisted the mega shelter in preparing for the arrival of more than 10,000 displaced residents. Described by our volunteers as an area that “looked like a war zone,” buses and helicopters arrived to unload victims of the devastation and our volunteers were onsite to assist with immediate relief needs and ongoing recovery.
The weather situation was quite volatile in Houston and volunteers were evacuated into the building three times in just one hour due to tornado warnings. Once it was deemed safe, however, the real work began — setting up back-up communications (ham radios) and providing all of the information technology required to support the many programs in operation at this mega shelter, which included activities related to feeding, sleeping, medical and mental health care, management of volunteers and resources on site, family re-unification and more.
Rescue and recovery efforts continued — as did the heavy rain — until 30 August. On the 28th, water quickly rose around the truck at 12:30 am, but thanks to Tim Forrest, one of our most active IEEE volunteers, the crisis was averted and the team was able to move the vehicle before it too was flooded.
Another threat was looming in Florida with Hurricane Irma. On 6 September, a new crew arrived in Houston to continue supporting recovery operations as the MOVE truck and its volunteers headed to Florida, US to provide relief efforts there.
By The Numbers
- 5,750: Volunteer hours donated to MOVE
- 6,000: Miles the MOVE truck travelled between Aug. and Oct. 2017
- 114: Volunteers trained
- 13: Volunteers deployed for disasters in 2017
- 886,083: Hurricane Harvey Survivors Assisted
- 77,000: Hurricane Irma Survivors Assisted
- 3: STEM Outreach events held
IEEE-USA’s Community Outreach Initiative – The MOVE Project was an integral part of the 2017 National Scout Jamboree and provided STEM activities for the 30,000 visitors. The MOVE vehicle was on site from 18 – 25 July. IEEE Volunteer Jay Diepenbrock illustrated MOVE truck equipment and its applications. Also, the IEEE emeritbadges.org STEM program helped scouts earn their Electricity Merit Badge and the Electronics Merit Badges.
STEM Outreach is a major mission of IEEE MOVE. IEEE volunteers had a great day on 24 May 2017 at the Atlanta Science Festival’s Exploration Expo. Nearly 500 people toured both the IEEE MOVE TRUCK and the IEEE Atlanta Section display. Humanoid robot ‘KEN’ was onboard all day and was a huge hit with both students and adults. IEEE also sponsored the Curious Kids Zone, which included the IEEE Atlanta Section’s Engineers Workshop.