by Jasmine Greene EarthTechling: Tilak Pun and co-worker Clif Swigget of Knowledge Mosaic have created a plan called the “Solar Energy for Shikha Schools.” This plan seeks to bring technology to a remote part of the world by providing consistent energy via renewable means.
Pun himself graduated from the Shikha higher secondary school and knows first-hand the energy issues over 350 schools are having. Power outages in these schools are a frequent occurrence and often last for days, severely limiting options and opportunities to study. Shikha’s solar panels will help at least power the numerous donated computers in these schools to allow access to the Internet and communication. Pun tested a small prototype of the panels out in Seattle and was able to successfully grill shrimp on a small Nepalese grill to ensure compatibility with the Nepalese current.
Pun, along with Swigget and his two sons, plan to travel to Nepal in August and install the solar panels. The installation of these panels will lead the four along the Annapuna circuit, reaching elevations of 17,000 feet and taking around two days while the men carry ten solar panels and ten batteries, altogether weighing 1,400 pounds. Besides getting support from Knowledge Mosaic, the project is receiving help from the Nepal’s Secretary of Ministry of Education and the Namaste Children’s Fund. Knowledge Mosaic will track its employees’ progress in Nepal via their blog. Pun’s efforts are not only to provide clean and reliable energy, but, as he stated, are also to “giv[e] these children access to the wealth of knowledge and educational resources available on the internet [that] will enable them to dream big and realize new possibilities.”