INSPIRING: Learners build a solar-powered car and train
Just another innovative group of South African youngsters...
There's nothing like watching youth come together in excitement over a project. Most importantly when that project involves tackling a problem that all South Africans face.
The constant interruption of electricity as well as the fluctuating prices of fuel have left many people feeling more stressed and uneasy than ever before.
And let's face it, it has not been an easy time for the world over. So to hear something positive is truly welcoming.
Read more: #AppreciationMonday: Carol Ofori and Soroptimist International celebrate young Durban girls
The youth of South Africa have managed to show us how their unity and problem-solving abilities can outshine anything.
We meant this in the most literal sense, because students from Soshanguve Automotive School of Specialisation and John Orr Engineering School of Specialisation in Johannesburg have built a solar-powered train, as well as a car.
The Sowetan visited the pupils who submitted their projects to the Sasol Innovation Expo last week. The train, which they have named Modjadji (named after the late Rain Queen, Makobo Modjadji, who died in June 2005), is blue and has mirrors, wipers, and carpets.
"The train consists of four solar panels to power it up, a motor and a 46V battery that can run the train up to a speed of 60km/h. Civil technology (construction) pupil Lethabo Nkadimeng, who came up with the idea to build the train in 2020, when he was in grade 10, said he was proud of the end-product as they had worked hard to put it together when time was not on their side." (MSN)
Although they faced challenges as a team, having to perform above 90% to pass, they joined forces and completed the project.
Mechanical engineering and civil engineering students used their combined skills to split the workload.
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