View photos
African Solar Village Green Project
Inspire and empower at risk youth through gardening and environmental stewardship
Leader
AkuSika .Nkomo Mackey
Location
1695 E 81st St #1 Cleveland, OH 44103
About the project
Meet the ASV Green Team 2016 students and interns having fun learning while working at Africa House International (AHI), a grassroots non profit Learning Center. The AHI’s Africa House youth gardening programs are designed to inspire and empower “Youth Placed at Risk,” to become leaders through gardening and environmental stewardship. The project was inspired by the work of the late Dr. Willie R. Mackey, an African American physicist who worked at NASA for 13 years while maintaining an active engagement in the community. Dr. Mackey solarized a village in Africa and brought that knowledge to inner city youth in the form of his African Solar Village Outreach Project (ASVOP). His innovative STEAM initiative brought knowledge of solar energy, math and traditional African culture to Cleveland’s inner city. Today the ASVOP lives on as the ASVGreen Project and is a major part of the educational program offered through AfricaHouse International.
ASVGreen project is the first effort to rebuild the solar projects that were started by Dr. Mackey. Much of Dr. Mackey’s groundbreaking work remains unfinished due to his untimely death.
The organization is seeking funds to strengthen the solar education component by providing more solar education training to the staff and students of the ASVGreen project and by including experiential learning such as installing permanent solar displays. ASVGreen Project participants will also work to alleviate the current pvc solar hut structure and replace it with a permanent, safer and more efficient wood structure that will be used as a shelter and solar display.
The Steps
1. Create fliers, make phone calls,knock on doors and bring together all partners. Share the goals of this solar education project, along with the goals for future solar projects that will be implemented in the neighborhood.
2. Identify the team and agree on the starting date. Establish on going meeting schedule and time line for Youth & Adults.
3. Set first date to introduce partners and youth. Share history, mission vision & goals of the ASVGP at Africa House and MLK high school. Invite youth to share their ideals, write on board and ask them to draw or sketch there design ideals.
4. Purchase materials.
5. Set first building session with youth and contractors at Africa House and take a look at there design.
6. First lesson is all about proper use of tools and how to take care of them.
7. The hut should be complete in one day.
8. Participants are the first to set under the hut and learn how the solar panels work, watt usage necessary to run lights, fridge and oven.
9. Set date for next project meeting with stake holders and youth at MLK high school to discuss solar panels currently on roof top.
Why we‘re doing it
My son, Olajuwon Hakeem lost his life here in Cleveland he was 19, I often think that if he had had mentoring and/or grief counseling and involved in this type of education program, it could have changed his whole life's trajectory. I do this work in his memory and for the next generation to develop the confidence, skills and abilities they need to be able to thrive in this concrete jungle called the inner city.
In addition to AHI: Outdoor education aka ASVGP, the participants learn about solar energy, Parenting/counseling, Financial Literacy and entrepreneurship.