15-Year-Old Self-Taught African Engineer Wows MIT
He never traveled beyond a 10-mile radius of his Sierra Leone village. His home was only lit by electric light once a week. Yet 15-year-old Kelvin Doe became the youngest-ever innovator to participate in MIT’s “Visiting Practitioner’s Program.”
Doe was discovered by MIT Media Lab doctoral student David Sengeh at a Sierra Leone high school innovation challenge called Innovate Salone. At the event, students are challenged to create ways to solve issues challenging their communities in the world’s ninth poorest nation. Doe had used trash and spare parts to construct batteries, generators and transmitters to supply electricity to his village.
According to Salone, Doe started constructing batteries with nothing more than acid, soda and metal. He combined the ingredients in a tin cup, and after the mixture dried he wrapped tape around the cup to create a battery. He experimented several times before completing a working prototype.
“We have not too much electricity,” Doe said in a video. “The lights will come on once in a week and the rest of the month, dark. So, I made my own battery to power lights in people’s houses.”
Do also created his own FM radio station, including a mixer he made himself, so his community could tune in to music and local news. He now plans to construct a windmill for villagers to use for additional electric supply.
“I want to help my family—to provide the facility for them,” he said tearfully.
