Young scientists from Thengwe off to Philippines

When Thendo Mudau came up with the concept of using cow dung to power a gas stove he did not in his wildest dreams expect that it would lead to him and three of his fellow learners winning a prestigious competition and having the prospect of travelling abroad soon.
Thendo (Grade 12), Matekga Olugaho (Grade 11), Enelo Maringa (Grade 9), Mabaso Mosona (Grade 10) and Livhuvani Mudau (Grade 12), all learners from Thengwe Secondary School in Mutale, are off to the Philippines to represent the country at the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (Sage) global competition to be held in Manilla from 10 to 16 August.
They were recently announced as winners of the Sage National Championship after their project beat four other finalists. Thendo said they never thought that a project that is using cow dung, something that many see as useless and valueless, would take his fellow learners to Europe. “We are all excited that the project will be competing with other innovations from around the world and we hope it will win the global competition,” Mudau said.
During a visit by Solly Kgopong, Department Head of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet) to the school on Monday the learners demonstrated their project. Thendo, an aspiring medical doctor, said the stove works on the principle of extracting methane from cow dung. The dung is stored in a tank that does not allow oxygen to enter and relies on anaerobic fermentation to produce the methane. “By storing this tank under high temperatures we ensure that the reaction takes place faster. We wait for a maximum of 14 days before it is ready to use for cooking,” Thendo described.
Asked how they came up with the project he said being sent to collect dung for his grandmother to cook with set his mind on a fascinating path that he eventually shared with the other four. “We did thorough research on how we can use the dung and we are happy to have come have come up with a winning project.
He added that they were tempted to use human faeces because it produces more gas and adds more power to the fire. “We wanted to use human faeces but it isn’t user friendly. Where cows feed on grass human beings consume acids and their stomachs contain hydrochloric acid which can spontaneously combust,” Thendo clarified.
The five learners also sell their gas stoves to community members through the Alchemy Social Enterprise, a venture they started in August last year. Livhuwani said they have already sold six stoves and with the profit bought school uniforms for underprivileged learners at the school. “The business is doing well and what is encouraging is that there is a high demand for the stove. Our wish is to grow the enterprise and compete globally with other innovations,” she said.
Mabaso said they are looking forward to do well in Philippines and also learn from other learners from different countries. “It is dream come true for us, we have never travelled to any European country and we are looking forward to make this trip worthwhile,” Mabaso said.
She added that by entering the competition they wanted to inspire and show learners in rural and remote areas that they can achieve anything they want in life if only they are determined and disciplined. “We made a project out of cow dung something people just pass on the streets and in the bushes. We saw potential in it and we made something out of it. This shows that innovation doesn’t only come from people in the suburbs or urban areas. We have proven that innovation can simply come from anyone at anytime,” Mabaso said.
Acting Principal Tshilidzi Madanda said they are proud of the learners and wished them good luck at the event. “We are proud of them, they did the school proud and we are confident that they will bring the trophy home,” Madanda said.
For winning the national competition the learners each received a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 and entrepreneurship books courtesy of Ledet. Kgopong said Ledet is proud of the learners’ achievement and they must continue with the good work. “We are proud as the province and this is a privilege for them and we are confident that they will do well in the Philippines,” he said.
Ledet, in collaboration with the Department of Education, realised that there was an entrepreneurial gap, particularly at high school level, and decided to adopt and be involved in the Sage programme.

Photo: Solly Kgopong (middle) Department Head of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism and Thengwe Secondary School learners that will be going to Philippines. From left are Thendo Mudau, Olugaho Mateka, Kgopong, Enelo Maringa, Masona Mabaso and Livhuwani Mudau with some of their stoves. Photo: Herbert Rachuene

Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za