This is our solution to providing a sustainable off-grid computer laboratory, using Raspberry Pis to deliver educational resources.

The SolarBerry has been designed to tackle the problem that so many rural areas in Africa do not have access to electricity. Statistics from the International Emergy Agency show that in 2018 only 5% of rural communities Malawi had access to electricity.

This is despite the evidence that electrification not only allows access to ICT, but also results in better school performance, improved teacher recruitment and retention and community benefit.  

Our design features the use of low energy Raspberry Pis and other equipment to ensure that there is enough solar power to allow the computers to be used throughout the school day, but also to ensure that there is power left over for the local community to use (for example to charge mobile phones). The goal is to generate an income that will make the project financially viable and sustainable in the long-term.