EC pupils invent water-saving device
THE Eastern Cape’s drought relief could come from its youth.
Allingile Mto and Lihle Sinyekemba, Grade 10 pupils from Mthatha, have come up with an innovative idea and invented a device to recycle water released by plants, which would otherwise have gone to waste.
“We live in a community affected by drought and our families rely on farming. This has inspired us to pursue this invention,” Allingile said.
“The device is shaped like an umbrella. It has adjustable metal poles which can be moved up to allow for the growth of the plant.
“Over the poles is a clear plastic which allows photosynthesis to continue to take place. This plastic traps the water vapour expelled by the plant and turns it into condensation.
“Underneath the peak of the umbrella shape is a fan which sits on top of a condensation chamber and pulls the water vapour into this chamber.”
Allingile said the device covered small vegetables and plants, but he was hopeful that over time they would be able to make the device bigger until it could cover a large number of crops.
“From a young age we were curious and always questioned things. This is why we like science.
“Although our parents and families are very proud and supportive now, at first they were unsure, because they always saw us researching and doing practical experiments which cost them money.
“When they heard we were nominated for an HIP2B² award, they realised all that experimentation was actually leading to something.”
Ann Zacharias, who teaches the pupils life sciences at Holy Cross Education Centre, said: “I am very happy for them. It was great to be able to take children from such a rural area on a trip to Johannesburg, where they got to fly on an airplane for the first time and stay in a big hotel.”
The duo placed second in the national competition and received R2 000. But even more exciting was that a company stepped forward willing to sponsor their invention.
“A company called 3M said they want to build a prototype for us,” Allingile said.