MyNextSeason

Called to give back

I found what I wanted to do professionally relatively early, and I was fortunate enough to use my degrees in chemical engineering to build a successful career at ExxonMobil. I recognized that I had an incredible life, and I felt a need to pay that good fortune forward after my retirement.

I left the schedules and demands of the corporate world behind, and my wife and I moved to Ghana on a volunteer mission with our church. Living and serving there for a year and a half, ultimately led me to find a deeply rewarding next-season legacy as the Founder of Empower Playgrounds—a humanitarian effort dedicated to improving educational opportunities for children in West Africa.

Inspiration strikes

When we began our work in rural Ghanian villages, I’ll never forget sitting in a dark classroom one day—just a cement block room with a door and one window. I looked at my wife and said, “I’m not sure anyone can learn anything in this environment.” And she said, “I’m sure they can’t.” And that was it— that was the moment I realized I had to do something.

I started drawing on the back of an envelope the same afternoon—playing with physics and trying to figure out how to make a little bit of electricity. I came up with the idea of using some kind of playground equipment to harness energy from the children that could be used to light their classrooms and homes. And that was the beginning of what became Empower Playgrounds.

Engaging my network

When we returned home, I reached out to some faculty friends at Brigham Young University. With the help of these educators and their engineering students, we designed a merry-go-round that used a portion of the children’s play energy to generate electricity which is stored in a golf cart type battery.

The power could then be used to recharge LED lanterns that could light classrooms and be taken home by students in the evenings. As most schools didn’t have playground equipment, the merry-go-rounds were a welcomed addition that served several significant purposes.

Compounded effect

The merry-go-rounds not only provide an outlet for play, which is an important component of learning, but also serve as a living lab for real-life science education, including a window that allows the kids to observe the generator and gear box inside.

And of course, they produce essential energy that empowers further learning.

Historically, most children in rural Ghana do not make it to the high school level, but the merry-go-round-powered lanterns are influential in changing that—providing enough light for children to study after dark once they finish helping with chores at home.

The total cost of an installed system is about $10,000, which supplies 200 children with electricity for at least five years. It breaks down to about $10 per year to give a child the gift of light and learning.

Joy in action

We installed the first Empower Playgrounds merry-go-round in Ghana in 2008. Within 15 minutes, we had 60 kids on the merry-go-round jumping up and down and singing. I was so excited that first day. Seeing the children in the village literally mob the merry-go-round—they never had anything to play on before— and that excitement has just continued.

Expanded impact

Since 2008, Empower Playgrounds has helped nearly 23,000 students and expanded offerings to a variety of resources with the core mission of enabling better educational opportunities.

We now have three areas of focus: providing light, augmenting education, and promoting wellness. In addition to the merry-go-rounds, we offer a lantern share program and a village solar project, both which deliver safe means for lighting homes and completing tasks after sundown.

Our second pillar, augmenting education, is comprised of solutions aimed at helping Ghanian junior high school students pass their high school entrance exam. We have established libraries and computer labs and provide science kits and scholarships to enhance students’ passion for learning and access to information.

Lastly, as many people living in rural Ghana don’t have access to clean water sources, there are many factors such as illness and even menstruation that keep students from attending school. We strive to remove these roadblocks by supplying reusable menstruation kits, drilling boreholes that pump clean water, and installing BioFil toilets that enhance sanitation.

Early on we established a team on the ground in Ghana who are full partners in helping us continue to find these new and meaningful ways to improve and expand the educational opportunities for Ghanian children.

Be intentional

Most people want to do good but may not look far enough outside of their own circle to find the right opportunity. These things don’t happen by accident. My advice is go find it—seek out that opportunity that inspires you and allows you to leverage your professional skills in service to others. It may be a local food pantry or a tutoring group, whatever it is—get involved and keep your eyes open for new ways to help.

I was an engineer, and I saw a place where a little bit of engineering could make a big difference. The ideas just came and the effort snowballed because we were listening and paying attention to what could unlock new possibilities for those who needed them.

A redefined identity

In rural Ghana, I’m a celebrity, (at 78)! I have 20,000 kids that know me and happily greet me. How amazing is that? Since 2005, I have been to Ghana 26 times, and I’m going back next month—to recharge my own battery.  It’s so easy to get mired down with fund-raising and other administrative challenges, but we must never forget the “why”.

I was fortunate to have found something that really motivates me. It’s so fulfilling, the perfect progression of my professional success into a satisfying and life-changing next season.

Sometimes I think to myself, “Maybe the world improved just a little bit because of what I did.”

Empower Playgrounds aims to enhance the educational opportunities for children in rural Ghana. To learn more about Empower Playgrounds and how you can support the work they do, please visit empowerplaygrounds.org.