A 14-year-old boy is being hailed for generating electricity from biogas, lighting up several homes in Borana zone, southern Ethiopia.
Adan Hussein Dida, a grade eight student at Tula Web Primary School, says he embarked on the project to ease the suffering of villagers who lack basic services such as roads, hospitals and electricity.
He started the project from the backyard of his parents, decomposing animal waste in a two-metre deep hole.
From this he was able to generate enough electricity for eight houses. He charges each home $0.87 (£0.64) per month.
The locals in the area are predominantly pastoralists who rely on their livestock for survival, but with the unforgiving drought that has hit the country, many are in poverty.
Adan's family is supported by the money he raises from his electricity project.
“I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far, they say I have saved them from the cost of batteries and torches. Their children can now read at home instead of waiting until the next day to do their homework,” Adan says.
His teacher, Boru Sora, says Adan is expanding his project to more houses in the village despite bad roads makes it difficult for him to go to towns to purchase the equipment he needs.
“He is a very innovative student. Besides the biogas he has tried several things from fixing radios and other electronics to making a plane that flew for 100 metres,” Mr Boru says.
Inspired by Adan, more students at his school are coming up with their own projects.
His dream is to pursue engineering at the newly established Borana University in Yebelo.
Latest Stories
-
Taxation is driving away investors – FABAG General Secretary
5 mins -
Effutu MP commissions office for Hepatitis B; absorbs cost of testing, vaccination and management
23 mins -
Bawumia pushes for land digitisation to tackle land guard menace
29 mins -
Faith-based institutions are instrumental in national development – Bawumia
37 mins -
Upholding the Integrity of Presidential Promises: A call to Ghanaian leaders
45 mins -
I don’t start ‘beefs’; I only reply – Strongman refutes claims
48 mins -
Vice President Bawumia promises reforms to turn Ghana’s fortunes around
56 mins -
REGSEC warns encroachers along Tema-Sakumono Ramsar site as it races to prevent flooding
1 hour -
Kumasi International Airport to be commissioned ahead of time – Transport Ministry
1 hour -
Vomit your loot now or hold onto it and face the consequences – Asiedu Nketiah to Akufo-Addo, NPP
1 hour -
Democracy is going to reverse in West Africa if we don’t tackle economic hardships – Atuguba
2 hours -
Bawumia commissions 124 housing units for victims of Appiatse disaster
2 hours -
Stonebwoy’s The Livingstone Foundation surprises talented autistic boy with gifts
2 hours -
NPP should’ve referred Kingsley Nyarko’s bribery allegation to the police – Inusah Fuseini
2 hours -
Police pursue gunmen for killing 2 off-duty officers at Trasacco
3 hours