Engineering Brightness Proposal
By: Sabrina Sharifzada
For the past few weeks our class has been working on a project called “Engineering Brightness”. Engineering Brightness is a project where students make flashlights to help people in other communities going through light poverty. We had a skype chat with Eladio and Dennis (two staff members of a private school) in the Dominican Republic. They shared with us the conditions that people are in without electricity. And our class got the chance to ask some questions that we were curious about. My question to them was how much of the population does not have electricity in the Dominican Republic. We also talked with Mr. Fogarty who is a teacher in a High School in New Brunswick. He gave us some good tips on how to ship, what not to ship, tips on fundraising, and many more. I really liked collaborating with different classes in the world. Not only did it help me but my whole class to think of ideas.
I’m in a group with Janna and Angie and our first idea was to buy flashlights but later on we thought that we don’t have enough time to fundraise and buy flashlights because winter break is almost here soon and then we only have another 3-4 weeks to do everything. So in respond to the light poverty that is going on in the Dominican Republic, me and my group are hoping to raise $1500 towards helping to build flashlights. So far me and my group have tried collaborating with Pitt River Middle School’s Leadership Team by emailing them and sending them a PowerPoint about what’s happening in the Dominican Republic. Janna’s sister and her friends are also in the leadership and are willing to help. We are hoping to fundraise by having a bake sale, having a contest, getting it through the announcements etc…. We also would like to talk to City hall after winter break to get our word on the SD43 school website if neccesary.
You can help donate on this website to support the Engineering Brightness Project
Video’s related to project:
- This is the full Skype chat with the Dominican Republic
2. This is a shortened version of the Skype chat that we had with Mr. Fogarty’s class in New Brunswick and basically the founder of the Engineering Brightness Project.
Tuesday December 6 2016
So today me and my group got the chance to go to Pitt River Middle School in the morning before school to tell them what is going on in the Dominican Republic to the Leadership team. We were really excited to speak and come to the middle school we used to go to. When we told them about what the Engineering Brightness Project was and what is going on in the Dominican Republic, they were very passionate and enthusiastic and really wanted to help us fundraise. Everybody had ideas, some had connections to Kilmer Elementary School, District Leadership and much more. Our idea of getting Pitt River Leadership involved was a great one because before they didn’t really have a topic to fundraise towards but now they can help us and even continue fundraising until the end of the year if they wish to raise money for other classes who wants to make lights next semester. We told them that our goal was to raise about $1500 knowing that we need more materials later on. We couldn’t show them our PowerPoint on light poverty which was created by Janna one of my group members but I did create some posters which I gave to them to hang around the school. Overall I thought that this visit really helped us create more connections, improved our speaking skills and will help us reach our goals. We forgot to say a few things, like on the poster I mentioned that, “the rendezvous how donates the most money will get a PIZZA PARTY”. We also forgot to take a few photos with Pitt River Leadership team because we had so much to say and little time. We hope that we can go to Pitt River next week to see how things are going and maybe give some tips and take photos as well.
Light Poverty Power Point
I really enjoyed this post.
I liked how you talked about your experience with the communication with other schools. I think you should continue to try to reach your goal of $1500. I am really interested too see what product you and your group come up with.
Thank you, I hope your group can also achieve you goals.
Very great detail Sabrina. I think that collaborating with Pitt River Middle is an amazing way for your group to spread awareness and raise money. I hope that your group can achieve your goals.
Your summary on light poverty in the Dominican Republic has shown a lot of detail and I can tell you spent along time on it. I really enjoyed the power point that was put together. I think it is very cool you will be collaborating with Pitt River middle school to raise money. It sounds like your group has a lot of great ideas, good luck!
Thank you Angie, I hope we as a group can reach our goals.