Archive for the &#8216;Case Study&#8217; Category

Academy of Sciences and Engineering for Africa Development

Academy of Sciences and Engineering for Africa Development (ASEAD)

Bringing Access to Digital Education & Solar Energy to DR Congo

For the past year, since mid 2022, Academy of Sciences and Engineering for Africa Development (ASEAD) has been utilising Tespack’s Smart Solar Media (SSM) system as part of their educational activities in the rural regions of DR Congo. ASEAD is a locally based non-profit organization focused on supporting the local population, especially the children and youth, in the pursuit of their scientific and entrepreneurial career development while focusing on sustainable development and activities around this that can further support the local communities.

ECO-School Project – Turning Rural Schools into Smart Digital Schools

During 2022, ASEAD carried out a project focused on improving the self-sustainability and livelihoods of children in rural areas of the DRC, in Maluku region. Due to lack of infrastructure and access to energy, lessons were often carried out under trees which meant that in case there would be rain, lessons would be canceled. With limited resources, students would rely on the teachers creativity in carrying out the lessons.

During this ECO-School project, ASEAD focused on building a lower cost school which would combine access to energy through the utlisation of solar panels while also incorporating audiovisual technology for enhancing the learning experience for the students and supporting teachers in accessing new type of materials. Thanks to this project, local schools and communities in the Maluku region, got access to energy and new educational content through the usage of projects and speakers as part of the lessons being conducted by the teachers.

The locals were taught about how to become self-sustainable and how they can utilise solar energy thanks to the SSM system.

Due to climate changes, the region has witnessed many changes in the seasons which have impacted on the crop production for the local farmers but also has caused serious deforestation in the region. For this reason, ASEAD has also carried out projects supporting the sustainable development of the region through tree planting.

Easy to Use, Works Well, Great Technical Features – How the SSM System Was Performing

After using the SSM system for over 2 months in the DRC, ASEAD conducted a survey with the users of the SSM system and collected their feedback. The feedback was based on the usage of the SSM system in different sectors such as education, agriculture, mining and research and the overall feedback was close to 100% positive feedback.

Main focus of the survey was to understand better how the SSM system performed in different projects, how easy it was to use and would it require any technical understanding, while also emphasis was placed on the overall technical features and performance of the system in rural regions. The key findings were:

Technical features of the SSM system were great with 90% of satisfaction rate from the users (i.e operational capacity of the system, solar charging features, access to digital content)
The system performed perfectly with 100% satisfaction rate – easy to use, no technical skills needed
Weight of the system could have been slightly decreased with 70% of the users being satisfied and happy with the overall weight.
The usage of technology and different technological advancements around power electronics, solar, audiovisual and battery management system were a 100% satisfaction rate from all of the users.

ASEAD believes strongly that the usage of the SSM system in the rural parts of the DRC can greatly narrow the widening digital gap between the urban and rural regions while supporting with the overall human capital development as more locals will benefit from accessing digital educational content.

Achieved Benefits

ASEAD was able to carry out digital lessons in rural regions, in turning classrooms into digital classrooms while enhancing the learning experience of the students by showcasing audiovisual content as part of the lessons. Due to lack of infrastructure and access to energy, the SSM system provided the needed energy source for powering mobile devices and supported with overall better access to green energy in the rural areas. Thanks to the portability of the system, teachers and other users were able to move easily from school to school.

For more information about the Smart Solar Media system and how it can support the work of organisations in remote locations, please visit our Featured Solutions page.

If you wish to start a partnership with Tespack or would like to get more information, please write to us at info@tespack.com

June 6, 2023

New Tespack Advisor

Alan Greenberg, Former Director of Apple Education, Joins Tespack as Advisor

In today’s fast-paced and evolving world, the role of technology in education has become increasingly significant. As educators and learners embrace digital platforms, one individual has consistently been at the forefront of driving transformative initiatives in the education sector. We are thrilled to introduce Alan Greenberg, an accomplished professional and former Director of Apple Education, who has made a lasting impact during his tenure at Apple, as well as many years of building strong partnerships and strategies and is now poised to bring his expertise and build new partnerships to new horizons as an advisor at Tespack.

A Trailblazer in the education industry and Apple

With an impressive background in education and a passion for technology, Alan Greenberg joined Apple Education and rose to become the Director of Apple Education. In this influential role, Alan led a dynamic team that revolutionized the intersection of education and technology, paving the way for groundbreaking initiatives that transformed the learning landscape.

During his tenure, Alan spearheaded numerous innovative projects that empowered educators and students worldwide. Under his guidance, the team developed Education Podcasting, a game-changing platform that redefined the delivery of educational content. Furthermore, Alan played a pivotal role in the successful launch of iTunes U throughout the UK, Europe, and China, democratising access to high-quality educational resources for millions of learners.

Alan’s visionary leadership extended to the development of Apple Education’s mobile strategy and iOS Education Apps, empowering educators and students to seamlessly integrate technology into their learning experiences. His relentless pursuit of excellence ensured that Apple Education remained at the forefront of educational innovation, equipping learners with the tools they needed to thrive in the digital age.

A New Chapter at Tespack

With an extensive Education experience behind him, Alan Greenberg now brings his extensive expertise to Tespack as an advisor. Tespack, a pioneering company specializing in portable renewable energy solutions, is poised to benefit from Alan’s visionary perspective and deep understanding of the education sector.

Alan’s appointment as an advisor at Tespack signifies the convergence of his passion for education, technology, and sustainability. Together, they aim to create innovative solutions that enhance educational opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and promote environmental consciousness.

Stay tuned as we will share more information and statistics about this project´s impact.

If you require more information or wish to start a partnership, feel free to get in touch with us on info@tespack.com

May 11, 2023

Solidaridad Network in Mozambique and Zambia Carrying Out Capacity Building Sessions for Farmers

Case Study: Solidaridad Network in Mozambique and Zambia Carrying Out Capacity Building Sessions for Farmers

Since 2021, Solidaridad Network has been utilising the SSM system in Zambia and Mozambique in order to support local farmers with better access to information and farming techniques as part of training and workshops organised in the rural regions. By accessing new type of information, farmers have been able to equip themselves with good practices and needed knowledge that has a direct positive impact on their farming practices and increases their crop production.

Providing Access to Information and Best Practices in Rural Regions

Solidaridad Network manages programmes in Southern Africa where the majority of the region’s populations live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. In Mozambique and Zambia, Solidaridad has been focused in carrying out programs that support the usage of digital solutions that can build on existing tools and engage farming and mining communities while providing them with better access to information and best practices.

Rural communities are however hard to reach due to lack of transportation, roads and in general due to the often harsh environment and conditions, not to mention lack of access to electricity which makes working in these remote regions difficult. For this reason, having a portable energy solution that can work as a training center and digital school, can make the work easier and more practical for organizations such as Solidaridad Network.

By utilising digital solutions such as Tespack’s latest innovation Smart Solar Media (SSM) system, local farmers in Zambia and Mozambique can now access a wide range of content and information that supports their farming practices.

Tespack’s SSM System Supporting in Educating Around 22 000 Farmers in Mozambique

In Mozambique, in the Tete Province, Tespack’s Smart Solar Media (SSM) system has been used as part of the “Practice for Change” soy program where local farmers are being educated about best practices in regards to crop management and production, nutrition and gender equality. Tespack’s SSM system made it possible for Solidaridad to utilise audiovisual tools as part of their workshops and trainings sessions so that around 22 000 farmers were reached and could enjoy accessing new type of information and materials.

While in Zambia, Tespack’s SSM system has been utilised in the regions of Katete and Petauke where workshops have been carried out focusing on topics of pest and disease management as part of soy productions. By showcasing videos and other visual aid content, local farmers have been able to learn new farming techniques.

Achieved Benefits

Tespack’s SSM system has been developed to provide better access to digital content, in supporting agencies such as Solidaridad Network in carrying out workshops, trainings and capacity building sessions in rural regions. By having access to audiovisual content, Solidaridad Network has been able to utilise new type of materials and content as part of their workshops held for local farmers while having the opportunity to power their mobile devices and create energy form the sun by using Tespack’s high efficient portable solar panels.

For more information about the Smart Solar Media system and how it can support the work of organisations in remote locations, please visit our Featured Solutions page.

If you wish to start a partnership with Tespack or would like to get more information, please write to us at info@tespack.com

January 12, 2023

Partnering with ASEAD & Zenega Foundation

Partnering with ASEAD & Zenega Foundation

Bringing Digital Education to the Congo

Tespack is delighted to announce that we have partnered with ASEAD, Academy of Sciences and Engineering for Africa Development, and the Zenega Foundation under their BadmintONEarth project. This partnership will bring digital education and access to solar energy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and seeks to improve the self-sustainability and livelihoods of children in the region while creating better opportunities and growth for the country.

Powering BadmintONEarth Project

BadmintONEarth project is the first reforestation and climate project in badminton, a project run by the Zenega foundation and ASEAD and supported by the professional badminton players Mrs. Miranda Wilson and Kai Schafer. The goal of the project is to create a positive impact in the rural communities in the Congo by educating and aiding them in the realm of self-sustainability. As the Zenega Foundation’s implementation partner in the Congo, ASEAD is currently working with local communities in the Congo by providing the people with better access to digital education and information through accessing new types of educational content. The locals are also being taught about how to become self-sustainable and how they can utilise solar energy.

Creating Impact in the Education Sector with the Smart Solar Media System

Together with ASEAD and the Zenega Foundation, funded and supported by the professional badminton players Mrs Wilson and Mr Schafer, our goal is to create a positive impact within the communities in the Congo through the utilisation of our Smart Solar Media (SSM) system. The SSM system can turn any space into a digital classroom by accessing different types of educational content, which will help rural communities in the Congo to gain better access to information. The BadmintONEarth project is essential in the Congo as more than 8.5 million children and adolescents are currently out of school. For this reason, we are thrilled for this collaboration as we believe we can together create lasting impact in the rural communities while continuing to support the future generations through better access to equal education.

Stay tuned as we will share more information and statistics about this project´s impact.

If you require more information or wish to start a partnership, feel free to get in touch with us on info@tespack.com

September 27, 2022

Case Study: Plan International Zambia Taking Action to Ending Child Marriage

Case Study: Plan International Zambia
Taking Action to Ending Child Marriage

Plan International Zambia has been using our Smart Solar Media (SSM) system since early 2021 as part of their on-going projects and awareness campaigns. One of the key campaigns that Plan Zambia has been involved on, focuses on creating further awareness towards taking action to ending child marriage. Tespack’s SSM system has been used as part of this campaign in order to reach the most remote areas in Zambia, in disseminating information about the harmful practices of child marriage and the impact it has on the overall development of girls who have gone this through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGk35u9JyJE&t=2s

Taking Action to Ending the Child Marriage – “Seeing is Believing”

Zambia has one of the highest child marriage rates in the world with 31% of women aged 20-24 married by the age of 18. In Malawi, 1 in 2 girls are married by the age of 18 as found by the UN Women Africa research. Plan International has been working on their campaign “Seeing is Believing”, in taking action and creating awareness to ending child marriage while providing further access to opportunities for local girls and women of Zambia.

“By ending child marriage we want to create equality between the sexes. A woman should take a leading role in society,” says Charity, a 24 year old youth activist who has been campaigning for an end to child marriage in Malawi.

As large part of the population of Zambia lives in rural regions, with close to 70% of the country not having access to electricity, as found by Sustainable Energy for All research, a key challenge remains in how to reach the people in the most remote locations and to provide them with access to latest information, not to mention how to provide them the same equal access to education.

Organising workshops and training in rural areas

With Tespack’s Smart Solar Media (SSM) system, Plan International Zambia personnel and workers have been able to power their devices such as phones and laptops, but most importantly, they have had access to powering projectors and speakers as part of the SSM system, which has allowed them to showcase videos and other audiovisual content which has played a major role in carrying out workshops and awareness campaigns. As the campaign slogan goes, “seeing is believing, it has been utmost important to show visual materials and content to locals in order for them to engage better and to understand the information more effectively.

On average, each workshop or training session had around 50-80 participants. The SSM system lasted in use for around 6-8 hours which allowed participants to enjoy different audiovisual content for a full day.

“(SSM system) is a great tool for social mobilisations and helps to disseminate information in different formats to communities with no access to electricity”
Plan International Zambia 2022

Tespack’s SSM system also helped to collect data on the field by allowing Plan International Zambia personnel to carry out surveys and questionnaires on the screen with the participants answering the questions with their clickers. This supported the overall reduction of paper based data collection towards a more sustainable usage.

If you require more information or wish to start a partnership, feel free to get in touch with us on info@tespack.com

March 15, 2022

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧g Farmers in Southern Africa

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧g Farmers in Southern Africa

𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬 P𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 Network in Zambia and Mozambique

Agriculture is by far the most important economic activity in Africa. It provides employment for about two-thirds of the continent’s working population and for each country contributes an average of 30 to 60 percent of gross domestic product and about 30 percent of the value of exports.

Although agriculture is the heartbeat of Africa, there are major obstacles that limit the success of small-scale farming in Africa. These obstacles can be divided into four categories:

In a large part of Southern African countries such as in Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the majority of the population completely relies on the agricultural system for their livelihood. Unfortunately, the agriculture industry has not been able to grow to its full potential as there is a common trend that many farmers in these countries never get above a middle school education and in some cases have never been to school due to the lack of resources.

Statistics carried out by the World Economic Forum show that around 70% of Africans make their living through agriculture and that technology could transform the way they work, in tackling some of their key challenges. UNESCO research interviewed farmers in rural regions and both younger and older respondents emphasized that indigenous knowledge, skills and technology were insufficient to meet the current challenges of generating a rural livelihood. However, there was a massive opportunity if such issues were to be addressed.

Powering Agriculture in Southern Africa

Technology and agriculture education is a must to continue supporting the growth of agriculture in Southern Africa. New farming methods need to take place to optimize the harvest as well as utilize new technology equipment that makes things easier for farmers and allows them to work smarter with better results.

The issues facing the agriculture world are systemic and cannot be solved by one actor or intervention alone. For this reason, Tespack and Solidaridad Network are joining forces for a maximum amplified impact. Taking education and technology to rural areas with the latest agriculture techniques will be the main objective as this will equip local farmers with access to new information and knowledge which will support them in increasing their access to vital information and good practices that can have a positive impact on their farming practices and harvesting.

Tespack Launching Collaboration with Solidaridad Network in Zambia & Mozambique

Solidaridad Network works in over 40 countries worldwide to create fair and sustainable supply chains. Inspired by 50 years of solidarity with under-resourced producer communities, they enable farmers, miners and workers to earn a decent income, shape their own future, and produce in balance with nature.
Solidaridad Network is also responsible for 150.000 hectares of sustainable land and all of this land is being handled by the 37.000 farmers, miners and workers they have trained. With their know-how and expertise on supporting farmers, Tespack is glad to be collaborating with Solidaridad Network in supporting their work in rural regions in Zambia and Mozambique.

Bringing Access to Digital Tools & Training in Off-Grid Regions

With Tespack’s Smart Solar Media (SSM), local farmers in off-grid regions can get access to new applications and technology as well as farming training by accessing new types of information such as visuals and videos. Solidaridad Network will be piloting the SSM systems in Katete and Petauke in Zambia as well as in Angonia, Tsangano and Macanga districts in Mozambique.
Using Tespack’s SSM system, Solidaridad Network can train farmers in remote areas with the newest techniques of farming. In most remote areas there is no electricity and using the SSM system will provide access in powering mobile tools and most importantly, carrying out training and workshops by accessing audiovisual content as the system comes with built-in audio-visual technology. The SSM system can be recharged with solar energy or from the normal grid and it can provide continuous power for up to 12 hours with one charge.

If you require more information or wish to start a partnership, feel free to get in touch with us on info@tespack.com

February 16, 2022

Powering Mobile Health Clinics

Powering Mobile Health Clinics

Providing Better Access to Maternal Health Services and Information through Smart Energy

In Somalia one in twelve women die due to pregnancy-related causes as they face enormous risks according to the borgen project. One of the biggest complications is the fact that many women receive the medical services too late. This is a significant factor in maternal deaths. One of the reasons for this is lack of knowledge about complications and the benefits of modern health care services.

IOM, International Organisation for Migration, and Finland-Somalia Association work together in order to promote and improve the maternal and child health service delivery in Jubaland, Somalia as part of their Mobile Health Clinic project. Tespack began to collaborate with the Finland-Somalia Association during 2021 and as part of the existing Mobile Health Clinic project in Somalia, the Smart Solar Media (SSM) system has been supporting locals in rural regions with better access to health care information. Local women have been educated on the complications of childbirth while the SSM system has provided extra support for powering needed mobile devices during the project.

Tespack Collaborating with Finland-Somalia Association in Somalia

The maternal health services project is about helping women and children in the rural areas of Somalia, to provide them with access to health care services. The mobile health clinics will give many young women basic health services while helping thousands of children with treatments and access to basic medicine.

Finland-Somalia Association and its partner NGO in Somalia, Sahal Healthcare and Development Association, will promote and improve child and maternal health situation in Afmadow, Somalia, by scaling up the operations of a mobile health clinic in Afmadow town and its surroundings. The project will be conducted in a close collaboration with local health actors and Jubaland Ministry of Health. It builds on the Daryeel Mobile Health Clinic, which is financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Providing Better Access to Health Care Information and Training

Due to power shortages and lack of access to electricity in rural parts of Somalia, reaching communities and disseminating information about health care services has been a challenge during the project. These rural regions can be hard to reach with limited access to electricity which makes it difficult to organize workshops and training sessions for the locals.
By utilising portable energy solutions that can power all mobile equipment needed for teaching, while accessing audiovisuals for a better learning experience, as according to studies, learning can be improved by up to 400 percent when using audiovisuals as part of the teaching. Tespack’s Smart Solar Media (SSM) system provides locals, especially women and young people, access to education and information about their reproductive health.

“The mobile unit will provide quality basic health services to 3300 pregnant women and women of childbearing age. Furthermore, the clinic will treat and give basic medicine to 8100 children.”

During this collaboration, workshops can be held in rural areas to create further awareness of the maternal issues that could occur during pregnancy and childbirth.

How the Smart Solar Media System Works

Tespack’s Smart Solar Media system (SSM) can power any device up to 19 volt (i.e. projector, laptop, tablet, phones, etc.). By incorporating audiovisuals (projector and speaker), solar energy and latest power electronics, the system can provide continuous power of up to 8 hours with one recharge.

The SSM system has a modular battery system that can be used individually or be joined to turn it into a power station of 120.000mAh (up to 460W of energy). All this can be easily transported in commercial flights thus reducing the overall deployment times in cases of emergencies.

Imagine carrying a smart digital classroom in a bag, as shared by the World Economic Forum, made for remote teaching and learning.

If you require more information or wish to start a partnership, feel free to get in touch with us on info@tespack.com

January 24, 2022